An Austrian man had a smoke break to remember after he ended up outside a moving train, hanging on for dear life.
According to a report by Euro News, the incident occurred in St Pölten, west of Vienna, on Saturday. A 24-year-old man was reportedly having a smoke break when a Railjet train from Zurich en route to Vienna started to leave the station.
The outlet states that the man jumped into the gap between two carriages as the train picked up speed. Passengers claimed he got the conductor’s attention by banging on the train windows. The conductor activated the emergency brake and let the 24-year-old inside.
Per the Independent, the Railjet train can reach speeds of up to 230 kmh (143 mph). The outlet reveals that the man is Algerian. He reportedly had a heated exchange with the conductor once he was on board. Euro News cites Austrian Newspaper Heute, which claims a passenger said, “The conductor really had a very big go at him.
Authorities Took The Man Into Custody
Euro News reports that police took the man into custody when the train reached Meidling station. It remains unclear if he will face any charges. Despite the bizarre incident, the train reportedly arrived at its final destination in Vienna just seven minutes late.
The outlet explains that the Austrian train company has condemned the act as extremely dangerous. They reportedly warn that similar behavior can be fatal and endangers the lives of staff and passengers. Per the Independent, Herbert Hofer, a spokesperson for the railway, said, “It is irresponsible, this kind of thing usually ends up with someone dying. And you’re not just putting yourself in danger, if you end up under the train, there’s rescuers, there’s police, fire service that come.”
Earlier this month, a Polish van driver narrowly escaped with his life after a train tore a chunk out of his vehicle. Security footage shows the driver tried to traverse a crossing as the barriers started to close. He got stuck and failed to maneuver his van out of the path of an incoming train.
Miraculously, the van driver was unharmed, as were the train driver and passengers. Commenters didn’t hold back, with many questioning why they didn’t attempt to break through the barriers. One poster wrote, “Those arms are designed to be flexible. You might have to pay for them, but that is better than losing your van.”