A man was left lying barely conscious on train tracks at Flinders Street Station when an argument over a cigarette turned nasty.
The alleged victim, known only as Gary, has told Seven News he feared what would have happened had commuters not rushed to help him just moments before a train was due to arrive.
CCTV footage of the incident shows the 54-year-old standing on a platform and arguing with a younger man during the evening peak hour.
A women and another man join the argument before a hefty shove sends Gary flying head-first onto the tracks.
“It haunts me to think that if a train had have been coming, I probably wouldn’t be here now,” Gary told Seven News.
Gary, who suffered a dislocated shoulder, a cut to his face and heavy bruising, said the argument started when he refused to hand over a cigarette.
The footage shows several commuters jumping onto the tracks to help Gary to safety.
“I suppose ‘hero’ is maybe a bit of a strong word, but they pretty much saved my life,” Gary said.
Seven News reported that the alleged attacker had appeared in court charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
The case will return to court in July.
