A PENSIONER has thanked quick-thinking residents for saving his life after he toppled off his shop mobility scooter onto a railway line.

Last Wednesday night, Geoffrey Wali, known locally as ‘Wali’, 67, fell off Fairbourne’s railway station platform and tumbled four feet onto the train tracks below, suffering injuries after striking his head on the metal rails.

Wali fell from his scooter trying to retrieve an item he had dropped and ended up stranded alone at the “dark and deserted” station.

Fortunately for Wali, Lesley Howell, who lives at the nearby station house, had been drawing her curtains at the exact moment the pensioner fell and watched in horror as he fell to the tracks.

The homeowner immediately called for help and her husband, Ron Howell, rushed to help.

He was soon followed by Cathryn Walford, who owns the nearby Fairbourne shop, and Fairbourne Railway worker Matt Burrows, to assist the stricken man.

Lesley then frantically called Arriva Trains to stop the next train and avoid any tragedy.

Wali told the Cambrian News: “I don’t know what happened, I really don’t.

“I vaguely remember dropping something, I lifted the armrest on my mobility scooter and it toppled over I think. I remember falling but then it all went black, I woke up to find people looking after me.

“It’s such a long drop down, but apart from cuts to my head and on my eye I’m alright, just a bit bruised.

“I’ve got osteoporosis so if I have a nasty fall like that I expect to break a bone or two, but I reckon my guardian angel must have been looking after me.

“I’d really like to thank the First Responders and everyone who came to help me, it could’ve been so much worse.”

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