California Man Pulled From Path of Train Grateful to His Rescuer

Wire Service
By Wire Service
November 7, 2019Trending
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California Man Pulled From Path of Train Grateful to His Rescuer
Hundreds of riders on the platform after system problems caused backups at the McPherson Square Metro stop in DC. (Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images)

SACRAMENTO, CA—The man at the center of a heart-stopping close call at the Coliseum BART station is speaking out. He fell just inches from an oncoming train only to be saved in the nick of time by a BART employee.

“I remember looking at the train when it was coming, and I just missed my step,” said 33-year-old RayShawn Jackson.

One misstep almost cost Jackson his life.

“When I fell I saw the train coming and I only had a matter of seconds to get out … I heard everyone yelling ‘There’s a train coming, train, train, train!’” he said.

That train was just inches away. The BART surveillance video shows a crowded Bart platform after a Raiders game. Jackson said he had been drinking and was distracted on the phone when he accidentally stepped over the yellow safety strip and fell.

“When I first jumped I missed my landing, second jump, I feel like an angel grabbed me from the air really,” he said.

Bart Supervisor John O’Connor was that angel who jumped into action.

“I just remember grabbing him and pulling as hard as I could,” said O’Connor. “He was sitting right there and he put his hand out and that’s when I gave him a hug—I’m like dude—you almost didn’t make it.”

“I gave him the biggest hug. Told him how grateful I am, there in the moment,” said Jackson.

A video by a passenger posted on Twitter of the two men hugging is a moment that has since gone viral.

“One second you could be here, one second, you could be gone. It’s that fast,” said Jackson.

The Rancho Cordova man says he’s still in awe of what transpired, not completely grasping how he could be alive.

“He’s my hero saved my life, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” he said.

Jackson told CBS13 he’s still shaken up, but doing ok.

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