An 18-year-old high school boy who fell or jumped onto the tracks was hit and killed by a train in Kuki, Saitama Prefecture, on Sunday. A 54-year-old man who jumped onto the tracks to try and save him sustained minor injuries.
According to police and JR officials, the incident occurred at JR Higashiwashinomiya Station at around 8 a.m. NHK reported that other passengers on the platform said the boy appeared to fall or jump from the platform just as a train on the JR Utsunomiya Line was approaching the station.
The man jumped onto the tracks to try and save the boy but was unable to. The boy was hit by the train, while the man managed to stay between the train and the platform, sustaining injuries that were not life-threatening, according to police.
The boy was declared dead at the scene, police said.
JR said train services on the Utsunomiya Line were delayed until about 10:30 a.m., affecting about 15,000 commuters.
© Japan Today
20 Comments
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virusrex
The man that jumped must have nerves of steel to be able to do that, unfortuantely the victim could not be saved but at least the man only got minor injuries.
Strangerland
Brave man, sad story.
Michael Machida
On Christmas day...
Mr Kipling
Not all heroes wear capes.
smithinjapan
Good on the man for trying to save the kid.
Rodney
I would of done the same. I alway check if the train lines have the spaces under the platform to shelter.
Fighto!
Good on the brave man for doing his best to save the boy. Hope he makes a full recovery.
Rest in Peace to the poor kid.
towingtheline
Nope... It's was just a normal Sunday in Japan. Nothing festive at all.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Good on the guy who tried to help. He's got some marble's!! RIP young man 18, so sad.
Anonymous
The man must have decided very, very quickly to intervene. No time to assess the risk. It’s fine to laud his action - *it **IS**** praiseworthy* - as an individual act of bravery, but it must be something deeply seated in the DNA of at least some humans.
DudeDeuce
Not an easy task when you have to make a split second decision.
TokyoLiving
People suicide everyday..
AustPaul
Very sad indeed, the man who tried to help will carry that experience for the rest of his life.
Japan Today, when reporting such stories would it not be a good idea to include some footnotes or references to counselling services?
Moderator: We do when we are sure that it was a suicide.
Spitfire
Brave man indeed.
I hope the young man rests in peace
Desert Tortoise
Poor kid, he had all of life ahead of him. Just sad, hard thing to read on Christmas Day. Hold your loved ones close.
AustPaul
Judging by the downvotes I guess I mistakenly assumed he took his life…
AustPaul
RIP to the young man and I hope the bystander gets the support he needs.
John
This news has really surprised me. That means there are still good people in japan, trying to save the young kid.