Erith 'hero' dramatically saves woman from being hit by train at Belvedere station

Sam Nicholson, 26, of Charlieville Road, was waiting for his usual train home from work at about 9pm on Tuesday, when he claims he saw a woman sitting in the middle of the train tracks.

He saw the train approaching the station and immediately grabbed her and lifted her onto the platform.

Mr Nicholson says he had to sit on top of her to make sure that she did not make her way back towards the tracks.

He told News Shopper: “A fast train was going to pass Belvedere station so I just dragged her up onto the platform – we were both lucky.

Sam Nicholson

“She was hitting me and screaming - I literally had to sit on her to make sure she didn’t move away.

“I was screaming at other commuters but no one helped. Some people were even filming the woman on their phones. I was so angry with the lack of help.

“I was trying to calm her down for about 10 minutes – and kept pushing her back down to the floor. She was trying to run back but she had a broken foot so she wasn’t very quick.”

Mr Nicholson managed to press an emergency button at the station, when someone speaking through a tannoy system, told him that help was on the way.

British Transport Police (BTP) arrived at about 9.15pm and took the woman to a place of safety.

Mr Nicholson is pleased he intervened and says he was branded a hero by officers.

He added: “I saw the lights approaching the woman and just thought ‘I’m going to see something horrific’.

“I needed to do something and I’m pleased that I did. Officers shook my hand and called me a hero.

“I ended up putting my life at risk to save her and I was shocked that not one person helped in any way – there were more than 10 people watching.”

The incident reminded Mr Nicholson, who has an eight-year-old son, of a darker time in his life.

“It’s affected me - I did something stupid two years ago and someone saved my life,” he said.

“My little boy would’ve been without a dad.

“The woman told me that she had three kids, so they would’ve been without a mum, which would be terrible.”

A BTP spokesman said: “We were called at 9.16pm to reports of concern for the welfare of a 25-year-old woman.

“She was taken to a place of safety.”