• Woman in her 70s fell four feet onto the rails at Southend Central Station
• c2c staff member and three others jumped on to track and lifted her clear
• Rail company says putting his own life at risk could be a breach of safety procedures
• Worker suspended while the incident is investigated
  

By Suzannah Hills

PUBLISHED: 03:29 EST, 5 September 2013 | UPDATED: 06:23 EST, 5 September 2013

A railway worker has been suspended for rescuing a disabled woman who fell on to train tracks just minutes before a train arrived because his actions 'broke health and safety rules'.

The employee - who has not been named - hauled the wheelchair-bound woman to safety after she fell four feet on to the rails just minutes before a train was scheduled to arrive.

Three other people helped him lift the wheelchair, with the woman in her seventies strapped in, back on to the platform at Southend Central railway station in Essex.

But instead of being commended for his life-saving actions, the worker has since been suspended for the rescue on August 28.

Bosses at c2c - which operates train services between London, Tilbury and Southend - say the worker could now face disciplinary action for failing to follow ‘correct safety procedures’.

A spokesperson for the company said: 'We have strict rules regarding the safety procedure for the quickest way of stopping trains in an emergency. An employee has been suspended while our investigation into this incident continues.'

Station staff called for an ambulance to assist the female fall victim, a woman in her 70s, and she was taken to Southend Hospital following the incident at 6.10pm.

She is now recovering from her injuries.

The move to suspend her rescuer has stunned fellow staff and passengers who had congratulated the worker on his quick-thinking actions.

One onlooker, who asked not to be named, said: 'He was suspended after carrying the woman back off the tracks because staff can’t go on the tracks.

'He saved her life, but now he might lose his job. It is pretty bad.'

In the meantime the RMT Union says it is speaking to members about what happened.

A spokesman said: 'RMT is fully aware of the incident and is consulting with our reps and members before a report is presented to the union’s executive.'