Lucky escape on the Bursa metro: 80-year-old passenger's life-or-death struggle on the tracks

The incident, which took place yesterday evening at the Şehreküstü Metro Station in the Osmangazi district of Bursa, was a heart-stopping moment. 80-year-old Abdulkadir Kavaklıgil had a unfortunate accident while returning from visiting his aunt, who is receiving treatment at the Uludağ University Hospital. According to reports, after getting off the metro and heading toward the station exit, Kavaklıgil lost his balance and fell onto the tracks after being bumped by a group of youths who were running and joking around.

At that moment, the approaching metro narrowly avoided a disaster thanks to the driver's emergency braking. In the footage captured by the cabin camera, the moment the female metro driver noticed the passenger lying on the tracks and quickly applied the brakes was notable.

Kavaklıgil, who was injured while trapped between the tracks, was quickly moved to a safe area by security personnel. Police and medical teams arrived at the scene shortly after, and following initial intervention, Kavaklıgil was transported to Çekirge State Hospital. After undergoing medical checks following the accident, which resulted in only minor scrapes, Kavaklıgil was discharged.

Recounting his experience, Kavaklıgil said, “I was walking toward the stairs when suddenly 4-5 youths running bumped into me, and I fell onto the tracks. People at the station immediately shouted to the driver, and the train stopped in a few seconds. If it had been two seconds later, the train would have run over me. I felt like I was face-to-face with death the moment I was underneath it. The distance between us was only 50 centimeters. God protected me.” Stating that he learned from those around him that the driver of the metro was a woman, Kavaklıgil did not neglect to thank the driver.

The elderly man, who was pulled from between the tracks by the quick intervention of security guards, was taken to the ambulance by medical teams and brought to the hospital. Expressing his sadness over the irresponsibility he experienced, Kavaklıgil said, “The youths joking around were so distracted by each other that they bumped into me and caused me to fall onto the tracks. I wouldn't recognize them even if I saw them now; they disappeared in an instant. Police teams reviewed the cameras, and I filed a complaint. They should be more careful next time; it was a narrow escape,” he said.

Recalling that he had previously been injured in a traffic accident three years ago, Kavaklıgil said, “I had faced danger before after being hit by a car. Now I have a head injury, and I have pains in my legs and arm, but I am still lucky.” Adding that his family was very upset by the accident and that he is aware of the fragility that comes with his age, he stated, “I don't know if it's the evil eye or carelessness, but thank God my family is by my side.”

News Source: 12punto