Baby boy's miracle escape after falling off train platform

This astonishing CCTV footage captures the heart-stopping moments when a baby boy in his pushchair rolls off a platform and falls into the path of a commuter train - and survives.

His mother desperately tries to reach the wheelchair before it is crushed - almost certainly killing the youngster - but miraculously her six-month-old son survived with just a cut to the forehead.

After being rescued by workmen he was taken to hospital for checks along with his mother, who suffered shock.

They were both released soon afterwards. The drama happened at Ashburton station in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday and train company Connex has just released these pictures.

When she first arrives at the station, the unnamed mother pushes the pushchair away from the track and fusses over her baby.

But she doesn't press the brake - and the pushchair rolls away from her and into the path of the train. The train came to a halt 30m down the track.

Workmen later recovered the shattered remains of the pushchair and other belonging spread across the track.

They believe the pushchair shielded the baby from the undercarriage.

John Rees, spokesman for Connex Trains said: "It's a miracle this baby wasn't killed. Somehow he managed to escape with just a cut to the forehead. It's an absolute miracle."

A spokesman for Victoria Police said signs at the station were adequate and that the woman had done nothing wrong.

Sgt Michael Ferwenda of Victoria Transit Police added: "Incidences like this are a startling reminder of how easily tragedies can happen. Parents, especially, need to be vigilant, particularly with toddlers.

"They tend to wander off, especially if there are other kids around."

The drama happened just a day after a campaign was launched in Australia warning of the dangers of prams on platforms.