Dramatic video shows California transit worker saving man from oncoming train
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Newly released video shows a transit worker in Oakland, California, pull a man out of the path of an oncoming train on Sunday — and without a moment to spare.
John O’Connor, a former train operator who was promoted to a transportation supervisor with the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), was on the platform at about 5:20 p.m. at the RingCentral Coliseum station, directing crowds leaving a Raiders football game.
It was at that time an intoxicated man accidentally misstepped and fell onto the trackway while a train was approaching, the transit agency said in a statement Monday.
O'Connor yelled at the man to get back onto the platform. When the man did not move quickly enough, and as a train approached, O'Connor grabbed him by his shoulders and pulled him up to safety, the agency said.
Tony Badilla, a rider who was on the platform and witnessed the dramatic rescue, shared a video on Twitter of O'Connor and the man embracing afterward . That video had been viewed more than 52,000 times as of early Monday afternoon.
BART said that as a former train operator, O'Connor "understands the trauma an operator experiences when going through a close call like this."
"He and other frontline employees are trained to quickly act and respond to keep riders safe," the agency said.
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Holy crap that was close. Guy was very lucky someone was close enough to save his ass
Damn that guy was saved with less than a second before he was to meet his maker.
Rode through that station many a time when stationed in San Fran and it was always crowded.
Damn lucky dude - fer shere.
We could use more heroes like him.
That train was a split second from taking that guy out. What amazing reaction by that supervisor (and hero).
I know one thing I'm never wandering around a subway station falling over drunk.