The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Arbroath rail line hero gets award for bravery
RECOGNITION: Alistair Hunter pulled unconscious man from train track seconds before it was too late
An IT worker from Arbroath who pulled an injured man from the path of an oncoming train at Broughty Ferry rail station was honoured for his bravery last night.
Alistair Hunter, 46, was one of 60 people presented with Brave@heart awards by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the ceremony at Edinburgh Castle.
Mr Hunter had been waiting at the train station with his wife in summer 2017 when a group of people, who appeared to have been drinking, arrived at the station.
One of the group stumbled to the edge of the platform and then fell on to the tracks, where he lay motionless.
Mr Hunter and another member of the group jumped down to provide assistance but became aware of a train approaching as they tried to lift the stricken man to safety.
Mr Hunter said: “We’d been out at the Blues Festival and one of the group fell on to the tracks.
“One of his group went down to help but because I could see it wasn’t going too well I went down to help.
“At the point we were starting to move I heard my wife shout ‘Oh my God, there’s a train coming’.
“I shouted at the other man ‘other tracks, now’ and pulled the man up and he fell on top of me just as the train went past.”
He added: “I don’t think it could have got any closer than that.”
Mr Hunter then lifted the unconscious man on to the opposite platform and contacted the emergency services.
He said: “I think it was terrifying for everybody in the station.
“I can’t really remember how I felt. My wife was as you can imagine but she was also trying to help one of the party the man was with who was very shaken.”
His bravery and quick-thinking was credited with saving the man’s life and Mr Hunter said he was “humbled” to receive recognition for his heroics.
Ms Sturgeon said: “It is a humbling experience being able to recognise those individuals that have demonstrated such heroism and exceptional bravery.”
Brave@heart 2018 panel chairman Philip Jones said: “Brave@heart award winners represent the very best of Scotland – we take great pride in serving the public and the winners are stand-out examples of this.
“Their heroic acts have protected others who have been in desperate and perilous situations.
“It would be all too easy for these selfless acts to pass us by but the awards make sure that doesn’t happen.
“The winners also remind us that thousands of people in Scotland are working to protect others every day.
“It’s so important that their contributions are celebrated because they set an example to us all.”
He fell on top of me just as the train went past. ALISTAIR HUNTER