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Teenagers described as 'angels' after jumping onto tracks to save man with seconds to spare | UK News

Two teenagers jumped onto the railway tracks in front of an oncoming train in Yorkshire to save a man's life on Saturday evening. Both men are now called heroes.

By Mickey Carroll, journalist


Tuesday May 28, 2024 4:10 p.m., United Kingdom

Two teenagers are being called “angels” after they jumped onto the railway tracks to save a distressed man just seconds before a train arrived.

Freddie Corbett, 15, and Harley Hollingworth, 16, spotted the man in a sleeping bag on the platform in Bolton upon Dearne in South Yorkshire Saturday evening.

They were waiting for the last train home as Freddie's 11pm curfew was fast approaching when the man jumped onto the tracks. The boys heard him say he was going to kill himself.

“Freddie said, 'You don't do that, mate,' and without even thinking he jumped onto the tracks with an oncoming train,” his mother, Jill Corbett, told Sky News.

“Between them, they were able to get this guy off the track and corner him until someone else came to help him.”

Two young girls were also on the platform and called the police. Then the driver of the oncoming train reversed and told the boys that help was coming.

“In the meantime, Freddie and Harley spoke to this gentleman, had heart-to-heart talks and found out what had happened in his life.”

Once police took charge of the man, Network Rail employee Gary Robinson took the teenagers home.

“Imagine my surprise. I was wondering where Freddie was all night, not answering his phone, when I opened the door to someone in a bright orange jumpsuit,” Ms Corbett said.

“We are extremely proud,” she added.

Freddie received a “lesson from his grandmother” for jumping in front of a train, but told his mother he would “do it again if faced with the same situation tomorrow”.

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“I wasn’t worried about the train,” Harley told the Daily Mirror. “I just wanted to make sure Freddie ran it off the tracks. We could see the lights of the train coming and it's not a very long turn.”

Network Rail employee Gary Robinson posted about the incident on social media.

“I stopped a man this evening with the intention of self-harm on the railway tracks,” he wrote.

“Those two guys were his angels! I dragged him off the tracks…I sat with him talking until I got there and make no mistake, I saved his life! “

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“It didn’t surprise me,” said Ms. Corbett, Freddie’s mother.

“He's an extremely caring boy. He's one of the boys, but at the same time, he's the first one to be there if one of his friends needed him.

“If any of us ever need him, if I've ever been upset about something, he's there. He's just special.”

“[It’s] you can't say every day that your son is a hero,” Freddie's father Billy posted on social media, while Harley's father Dale said he was “proud as hell “.

Hundreds of people praised the boys for their courage.

“It’s incredible, two young men saving a life!” » said one Facebook user.

“Good game [Harley’s mother] to go find a good boy. They are two little angels,” said another.

Even though the teenagers' reaction has been “overwhelming” and they are very worried about the man they saved, their teenage habits remain strong.

“They both slept at our house last night and didn’t get up until midday,” Ms Corbett said.

“They just don't realize it. Anxiety is skyrocketing in the house but Freddie and Harley are sound asleep!”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email [email protected] in the UK. In the United States, call your local Samaritans branch or 1 (800) 273-TALK

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