Teenage boys described as ‘angels’ after leaping onto tracks to save man with seconds to spare
Two teenage boys are being called “angels” after leaping onto railway tracks to rescue a man in distress just seconds before a train pulled in.
Freddie Corbett, 15, and Harley Hollingworth, 16, spotted the man in a sleeping bag on the platform at Bolton upon Dearne in South Yorkshire on Saturday night.
They were waiting for the last train home with Freddie’s 11pm curfew fast approaching when the man jumped onto the tracks. The boys heard him say he was going to kill himself.
“Freddie said, ‘You’re not doing that, mate’, and without even thinking leapt onto the tracks with a train coming,” said his mother Jill Corbett to Sky News.
“Between them, they managed to get this guy off the track and pin him down until somebody else came to help.”
Two girls were also on the platform and called the police. Then, the driver of the oncoming train reversed back and told the boys that help was coming.
“In the meantime, Freddie and Harley had been talking to this gentleman and having a bit of a heart-to-heart and finding out what had been happening in his life.”
Once the man’s care was taken over by police, Network Rail employee Gary Robinson dropped the teenagers back home.
“Imagine my surprise. I’d been wondering where the blinking heck Freddie was all night, not answering his phone, when I opened the door to somebody in a bright orange boiler suit,” said Mrs Corbett.
“We are extremely proud,” she added.
Freddie got a “lecturing from his granny” for jumping in front of a train but told his mum he “would do it again if he were 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 got him off the tracks. We could see the train’s headlights coming and it’s not a very long bend.”
The Network Rail employee Gary Robinson posted about the incident on social media.
“Called out tonight to a male with intent to self harm on the railway,” he wrote.
“These two lads were his angels! Dragged him off the railway… sat with him talking ’til I got there and make no mistake, saved his life!”
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“It hasn’t surprised me,” said Mrs Corbett, Freddie’s mum.
“He is an extremely caring boy. He’s one of the lads, but at the same time, he is the first guy to be there if any of his friends ever needed him.
“If any of us ever need him, if I’ve ever been upset about anything, he’s there. He’s just special.”
“[It’s] not every day you can say your son is a hero,” posted Freddie’s dad Billy on social media, while Harley’s dad Dale said he was “proud as punch”.
Hundreds of people have praised the boys for their bravery.
“This is amazing, two young men saving a life!” said one Facebook user.
“Well done [Harley’s mother] for fetching a good lad up. Two little angels they are,” said another.
Although the reaction has been “overwhelming” for the teenagers and they are very concerned for the man they saved, their teenage habits remain strong.
“They both slept at our house last night and didn’t get up until midday,” said Mrs Corbett.
“They’re just oblivious. Anxiety is going through the roof in the house but Freddie and Harley are fast asleep!”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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