Man pushed on to rail track

The victim was not injured during the incident

A man narrowly escaped being electrocuted after landing within inches of a live rail when he was pushed off a station platform.

The 19-year-old had been standing near the edge of the platform and was talking on his mobile phone when he was shoved from behind.

CCTV cameras captured the incident at Bebington station, Wirral, Merseyside, and the footage shows a teenager, aged 14 or 15, deliberately pushing the victim on to the track.

British Transport Police (BTP) said the victim was "very lucky" no train was heading into the station at the time.

Despite circulating the description of the offender to all police stations in the region, officers have been unable to catch him.

'Isolated incident'

Detective Inspector Graham Martland, of British Transport Police (BTP), said the incident took place at 2050 BST on Saturday 5 July this year.

He told BBC News Online: "This was an isolated incident. The victim was stood towards the edge of the platform, standing talking on his mobile phone.

"He was travelling with other people, but had stepped away from them for a bit of privacy, when he felt a sharp shove in the back and he fell on to the tracks, missing the live rail by inches.

"He was very lucky that no trains were coming and that he was uninjured."

Mr Martland said the victim quickly stood up and climbed back on the platform, as the offender, who was with a group of people, ran from the station.

The attacker is white, with distinctive goofy teeth and is between 5ft 4ins and 5ft 6ins tall.

He was wearing a dark-coloured baseball cap and tracksuit bottoms, which had a stripe down the sides.

Witnesses, or anyone who has information, should contact BTP or ring Crimestoppers.