AN ELDERLY widow has spoken of her gratitude to the unknown cyclist who pushed her stalled car off a railway line seconds before an express train dashed past.
Kind-hearted Anne Mocatta, 83, of Rectory Road, Tarring, was driving back from donating various items to Worthing Churches Homeless Projects when her Peugeot car stalled across the tracks at West Worthing level crossing.
"A young man banged on the window and said 'if you can get it into neutral, I will push'," said Mrs Mocatta. "He had just got it over the line before the gate went down and the express went through. It didn't stop.
"It was a horrifying experience, the worst I've had in a very long life."
After Mrs Mocatta managed to start her car successfully, she looked for her young saviour but he had disappeared.
She said: "I got home, said a prayer and burst into tears.
"Somebody said afterwards that I should have got out of the car. But that would have meant everyone in the first carriage injured and the driver in shock."
She added: "I think he did save my life. I hope he will see this and realise how grateful I am."
If you know the identity of the heroic cyclist, please call the Herald newsdesk on 01903 282366.
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