A TEENAGER, who risked his life to rescue a woman who toppled onto a railway line, has been praised for his "humanitarian act" by her partner.

Brave Sam Collett, 18, was the only person who leapt onto the tracks at Chelsfield station and pulled terrified Pam Mayers back on to the platform seconds before a train arrived.

The 40-year-old mother-of-two had lost her balance and fallen backwards off the platform and smacked her head on the rail.

The fall left her dazed but she refused to go to hospital.

So, instead, the kind-hearted public relations consultant took her back to his house, in Marlborough Close, Orpington, and then drove her all the way back to her home, in Peckham, south London.

Speaking after the incident, on Wednesday December 12, Ms Mayers' partner, Kevin, told the News Shopper she was still too shaken to talk about it.

He said: "We are both incredibly grateful to Sam for what he did.

"He put his own life at risk for Pam. It was a really humanitarian thing to do and we can not thank him enough."

First-aid-trained Mr Collett said there were at least 20 people on the platform but no one seemed to want to help. They just carried on with what they were doing.

"I helped her up and checked she was all right. I just hope somebody would have done the same for me. I don't know who was more shocked, her or me."

His mum, Lynn, of Mountview Road, Orpington, said she was amazed when he told her what had happened but was "very proud".

She added: "I told him he was an absolute hero. It was so typical of him to come to the rescue, not think of his own safety and to make sure she got home."

Bromley station manager Kay Ridgwell sent Pam a bouquet when she heard of her brush with death.

A Connex spokesman said: "Thank goodness for the young man's quick thinking. We are extremely relieved she is all right. Safety is our top priority and we will be investigating the incident soon."

Ms Mayers was taken to King's College Hospital and treated for minor head injuries.

December 19, 2001 11:30