A hero hoodie who plucked a woman from underneath the wheels of an express train said today: "I didn't even think about my own safety".

Brave Carl Duval, 16, leapt onto tracks at East Worthing station after spotting the woman, called Melissa, lying just inches from a live rail with a 100 mph train approaching.

Onlookers were shocked to see her collapse and then plunge two metres onto the lethal tracks shortly after 5pm last Saturday.

But without pausing to consider his own safety, Carl, who was walking over a nearby bridge, on Ham Road, with girlfriend Leanne Collier, 14, raced to her aid.

He ran down to the westbound platform and after just a cursory glance to see if any trains were coming, jumped onto the tracks and began speaking to the woman.

Trainee marble worker, Carl, who lives with dad Roger in Sompting Road, Broadwater, near Worthing, said: "She was semi-conscious and didn't really respond to anything I said.

"I just got her back up onto the platform. I didn't even think about my own safety the whole time. It was instinctive I suppose.

"I was just doing what anyone would have done."

The high-speed train raced through the station around 60 seconds afterwards Carl got her out of harm's way.

With his wits still about him the teen ensured an ambulance was called and paramedics arrived shortly after to take the woman to Worthing Hospital, where she was later discharged.

Simon Watson, 63, from Folkestone, who was on the eastbound platform, described how Carl simply gave him the thumbs up after the dramatic rescue.

Carl's proud dad, who was celebrating his 60th birthday on the day the drama unfolded, contacted The Argus after spotting our exclusive story about the drama on Wednesday.

Mr Duval said: "I am very proud of him.

"He's saved a woman's life and by all accounts she was only inches away from the live rail.

"Mind you when he came and met me he was covered in blood, all over his white hoodie top.

"He was in a bit of a state. We're just glad he's okay and the woman's okay."

Carl could now be up for a bravery award after police said they would consider putting him forward.

He has won widespread praise from Argus readers and from co-workers.

A member of staff at Francis Tate Marbleworks, North Street, Worthing, where Carl works, said: "He did a very brave thing by all accounts."

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "It certainly was very brave of him.

"It sounds as though he deserves some sort of award because he has quite clearly saved somebody's life."

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