‘Hero' saves blind man who fell into path of oncoming train
Kevin McMahon, 85, was seconds from death after he accidentally walked off the side of the Beckenham Station platform on June 28, mistaking the train he was seeing as one on the opposite side of the platform.
He shattered his heel, tore his rotator cuff and bruised his ribs.
A young man who saw him fall, swiftly jumped onto the tracks as the train was approaching and helping him to safety. But by the time authorities arrived, the mystery hero had disappeared on the train he had been waiting for.
It prompted Mr McMahon's daughter Kat Black to make a public call for help to find the man, believing her dad would have been hit had he not helped when he did.
'My Dad Kevin is legally blind, but insists on being as independent as possible, catching public transport by himself regularly,' she said.
'He was rushing for a train and didn't realise the train he was seeing was on the opposite platform and he went straight off the edge onto the tracks.
'A young man saw him fall and was helping him get off the tracks when an express train was approaching the platform, risking his own life to save my Dad.' Kevin McMahon was rescued by good Samaritan after falling onto train tracks at Beckenham Station. Credit: Facebook
Mr McMahon remembered the kind stranger saying to him 'you are too heavy for me mate' but told his daughter he 'found some superhuman strength' once he saw a train coming towards them.
Despite his injuries Ms Black said her Dad is 'doing pretty well'.
'My Dad said he even tried to get on the train with the guy instead of waiting for the ambulance, as though he was absolutely fine to go on with his day — shattered heel and all,' she said.
'The Public Transport Authority said it was a legit near miss, they won't release the CCTV as it could be triggering for people but it was a very close call.'
The West Australian also had their request to see the CCTV denied.
After posts to Facebook and Reddit, Mr McMahon's family was able to get in contact with the 'modest hero' who saved their Dad's life.
'What an absolute hero for risking his own life to save my Dad,' Ms Black said.
'The family were very happy we found him to thank him, I hope he lets us do something nice for him as a thank you.'
PTA transit manager Jeremy Carroll confirmed his team assisted in the reunion of Mr McMahon and 'his hero'.
'I would like to commend the member of the public for his quick thinking and helping the elderly gentleman that fell onto the train tracks,' he said.
'His quick thinking and just being in the right place at the right time has made this positive outcome possible.'
Mr Carroll said the organisation would not share the CCTV 'to respect the individuals right to privacy'.
'But we looked at it . . . we managed to identify the member of the public, and then we connected them,' he said.
'They were very, very appreciative and grateful for it, and we are very happy that it's all come to a positive outcome.'
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