Teenagers jump onto train tracks to stop man from killing himself with 45 seconds to spare

Two teenagers hailed as heroes after jumping onto the tracks to stop a man from killing himself have told how the train was only 45 seconds away from them.

Teenage “angels” pulled a suicidal man to safety after he jumped onto the tracks at the weekend. Freddie Corbett, 15, and Harley Hollingworth, 16, sprang into action when they spotted a distressed man at Bolton upon Dearne train station in South Yorkshire.

Friends were waiting for the last train home on Saturday night when they noticed a man jump onto the tracks as their train headed towards him. But kind friends have dismissed claims they are “heroes” and say they just hope the man gets help.

Freddie and Harley told the Mirror they were waiting for the last train home at 10.30pm when the drama unfolded. Freddie said: “I feel like we just did what every other boy should do. I am very grateful for what everyone has told us.

“Yesterday we were a bit shaken because it was a serious moment, but now we are fine and we are happy that it worked.” The teenager said that when they arrived, they saw a man sitting on the platform in a sleeping bag.

“That’s when he got up, climbed the rails and said ‘I’m going to kill myself tonight.’ I said; ‘you don’t do that mate’. I saw the train coming, but I jumped straight in and pulled it out. It was just a natural instinct.

“My grandmother later said; ‘You stupid idiot could have been crushed’. But my parents are proud. I hope he gets help now. I talked to my mom about it, she’s a nurse and she says she will.”

His friend Harley, 16, who also jumped onto the tracks to pull the man to safety, said: “I wasn’t worried about the train, I just wanted to make sure Freddie pulled him off the tracks. We could see the lights of the train coming and the curve isn’t very long.”

Freddie added: “The train was there about 45 seconds after we got off. He kept telling us ‘you are good guys’. You could see that he was struggling a lot.”

Network Rail’s Gary Robinson offered his thanks and said the guys saved the man’s life. In a post on social media, Gary said: “Called a self harming man on the train tonight… these two guys were his angels. They pulled him off the track… sat with him and talked until I got there and I’m working mistakes saved his life!

“Kids get a bad press, but with humanity like those guys showed tonight we’re in safe hands! These two guys are a credit to their parents and I can’t speak highly enough of them. If you see them, buy them a J20 (not old enough yet for half a liter).”

Freddie’s dad, Billy, from Goldthorpe, said he was ‘super proud’ of the boys, as both parents said it was “about time we had good news and good media about our children”. Billy said: “My son and his friend jumped onto the track, pulled him off the track and pinned him down.

“The train stopped, the police were called and then my son and Harley sat and talked to the man until they arrived.” Harley’s dad Dale Hollingworth also praised the boys’ actions, saying they showed “bravery and quick thinking” and said he was “proud as punch”.

Dale, 39, a double-glazing fitter from Rotherham, said: “I was booming. I’m bursting with pride. He’s just a typical grumpy teenager, but it’s clear that he has a heart of gold.

“He came home with a guy from Network Rail on Saturday night around midnight, who told us they were amazing. I’m still ecstatic to be honest.”

• Anyone who is struggling or needs someone to talk to can call Samaritans 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 116 123.