Police are trying to trace a Tube passenger who jumped onto live tracks at Tottenham Court Road in London to pull a fallen man to safety, despite the danger to his own life.
The daring rush-hour rescue happened after a 47-year-old man waiting for the Northern Line suddenly became unwell.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"As shocked bystanders looked on, a backpack-wearing commuter jumped onto the tracks and hauled the man to safety," reports the Huffington Post.
Fellow travellers notified station controllers in an attempt to slow down the approaching train, adds the website.
The man, whose actions were captured on CCTV, has been hailed a hero for his quick-thinking and fast response.
The rescued commuter was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital. He received only light cuts and bruises and will make a full recovery.
"Going onto the tracks is extremely dangerous, but the bravery of this man has to be praised," said Superintendent Chris Horton, of British Transport Police.
"The man sprung to the rescue and hauled him back onto the platform, whilst other commuters alerted the emergency services."
Police want to find the man in order to recognise him for his courage.
"On behalf of everyone at British Transport Police, I'd like to commend this man for his brave actions – his quick thinking most likely saved the man's life," Horton added.
People on Twitter were also quick to praise the man, with many hoping he comes forward to claim a reward.
-
5 museum-grade cartoons about Trump's Smithsonian purgeCartoons Artists take on institutional rebranding, exhibit interpretation, and more
-
Settling the West Bank: a death knell for a Palestine state?In the Spotlight The reality on the ground is that the annexation of the West Bank is all but a done deal
-
Sudoku medium: August 23, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drugSpeed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policySpeed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UKSpeed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakersSpeed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
-
Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism
