Hero Londoner who saved Tube shove victim from tracks: I acted on instinct

Asher McShane6 October 2018
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A hero Londoner has told of the moment he rescued a 91-year-old captain of industry who was shoved onto Tube tracks in a random attack.

Waiter Riyad El Hussani, 24, saved Sir Robert Malpas seconds before a train approached after the former Eurotunnel boss was shoved onto the tracks by a man with paranoid schizophrenia.

Paul Crossley, 46, was found guilty yesterday of attempted murder. Footage of the horrifying incident drew gasps from the public gallery as it was played in the Old Bailey yesterday for the first time.

Mr El Hussani rushed to the aid of Sir Robert, who suffered cuts and a fractured pelvis in the fall.

After Crossley was found guilty, Mr El Hussani said: "As soon as I noticed the man on the tracks I knew I had to act fast as I could hear the train coming.

"I did not decide to jump onto the tracks. It was just instinct. There was no time to think about it."

He told MailOnline: "His face was covered in blood and it was also coming out of his mouth.

The moment Sir Robert was shoved onto the tracks 

"It took around thirty seconds before I was able to stand him up.

"By this point there were plenty of people on the platform offering help and we quickly managed to get him off the tracks.

Crossley also attempted to shove another man onto the Tube tracks, but he resisted

"Once we got him onto the platform someone handed me a towel and we used that to soak up the blood.

"It was around three or four minutes before help came."

Lucky escape: Sir Robert Malpas was pulled off the tracks 
© UPPA Ltd.

He added that he had been thanked personally by Sir Robert.

"We have sent each other a number of emails now and Sir Robert has thanked me for my actions," said Mr Hussani.

Guilty: Paul Crossley
BTP

'He's also asked if we could meet up. So we need to arrange a date for that."

The Recorder of London, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, adjourned sentencing for reports.

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