NSW toddler's granddad's bravery praised

A toddler's uncle has praised the child's grandfather for pulling her from railway lines in Sydney's west.

A grandfather who narrowly missed being hit by a goods train has been praised for risking his life to save his granddaughter, whose pram had rolled onto railway lines.

Eighteen-month-old Erleen Sabharwal suffered a bruised forehead and skinned knees when she fell off the platform at Wentworthville station in Sydney's west on Sunday.

She was rescued by her 62-year-old grandfather who was nearly struck by a train after he jumped onto the lines and handed her back to family.

"Definitely, I'm very proud of him that at that age he jumped down to save the baby," the girl's uncle Parminder Singh said.

"It could have been worse if my father hadn't have jumped or if the train was coming at the same time."

CCTV footage shows the pram rolling away as the family were buying tickets.

The grandfather, who had travelled from India only days before, had to walk along the tracks to the end of the platform after jumping to the toddler's aid.

The little girl was released from hospital on the afternoon of the incident.

"God was there to help them out, I'll just say that," Mr Singh said.

"She's running around playing in the house and everything is OK."

Acting Superintendent Daniel Wiggins said the grandfather, who did not want to be named, had been "brave" and "courageous".

The incident has prompted warnings for parents to be extra cautious with children around railway stations.

Sydney Trains operations director Tony Eid said similar incidents happened on the network two or three times a year.

He said most Sydney stations had platforms that slanted toward the centre but some unrenovated ones, like Wentworthville, still sloped towards the tracks.

"We ask parents and carers with prams that they always maintain a firm grip, apply the brakes and make sure their child is fastened in the seat belt," he said.

Mr Eid said Wentworthville Station has been earmarked for renovation.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world