Drunk escapes train platform death

A drunken man narrowly escaped death as a train sped over him at 60mph, and the horror of the moment was captured by a Romford station security camera.

He survived unscathed only because the train was an old-style slam-door model, which allowed just enough space for him to crouch in the gap between the rolling stock and platform edge.

Moments earlier he came within seconds of being hit by another train, the fast service between Liverpool Street and Ipswich, as he staggered across mainline tracks. Evening rush-hour commuters saw him leap from the path of the first train and stumble towards the opposite platform as he heard the second train approaching. Eighty-one trains using the line were delayed while police investigated. British Transport Police confirmed the man was drunk when held and are considering prosecution over the 17 July incident.