Sikh man jumps in front of train to save grandchild in Australia
Wednesday, 08/07/2015
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
SYDNEY: A 62-year-old Sikh man jumped in front of a fast moving train to dramatically save his 18-month-old granddaughter after the baby’s stroller fell on tracks at a railway station in Australia, media reported on Tuesday.
The grandfather, who escaped unhurt, had arrived in Australia last week, leaped into the path of the freight train at Wentworthville station on Sunday after the pram holding the child, Erleen, rolled onto the tracks. The family was on its way to a gurdwara.
The grandfather, who was not named, immediately jumped on to the track and passed the pram back up to his wife and the child’s mother. CCTV footage of the dramatic incident at the railway station shows the girl’s grandfather letting go of the pram so he could pay for tickets. As soon as he sees the pram hurtling towards the tracks, he darts after it, before leaping onto the tracks to save her.
The child’s uncle Parminder Singh said he was incredibly proud of his father who only arrived in Australia last Friday. “He’s done a great job and he didn’t think for a second about his life, he just jumped out to save her.
Nobody knows how that happened... but the baby is safe and sound and my father is OK, but just can’t talk much,” Parminder was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.
Erleen suffered swelling on her forehead and abrasions on her knees, but was discharged from hospital on Sunday afternoon. Parminder said his niece had made a good recovery.
Sydney trains director of operations Tony Eid said the incident was a reminder to passengers that stations could be a dangerous environment. Unlike more modern train stations, the platforms at Wentworthville slope towards the tracks for weather reasons.
Holroyd Local Area Command acting inspector Paul Reynolds praised the brave actions of the grandfather.
