‘Hero' saves blind man who fell into path of oncoming train
Kevin McMahon, 85, was seconds from death after he accidentally walked off the side of the Beckenham Station platform on June 28, mistaking the train he was seeing as one on the opposite side of the platform.
He shattered his heel, tore his rotator cuff and bruised his ribs.
A young man who saw him fall, swiftly jumped onto the tracks as the train was approaching and helping him to safety. But by the time authorities arrived, the mystery hero had disappeared on the train he had been waiting for.
It prompted Mr McMahon's daughter Kat Black to make a public call for help to find the man, believing her dad would have been hit had he not helped when he did.
'My Dad Kevin is legally blind, but insists on being as independent as possible, catching public transport by himself regularly,' she said.
'He was rushing for a train and didn't realise the train he was seeing was on the opposite platform and he went straight off the edge onto the tracks.
'A young man saw him fall and was helping him get off the tracks when an express train was approaching the platform, risking his own life to save my Dad.' Kevin McMahon was rescued by good Samaritan after falling onto train tracks at Beckenham Station. Credit: Facebook
Mr McMahon remembered the kind stranger saying to him 'you are too heavy for me mate' but told his daughter he 'found some superhuman strength' once he saw a train coming towards them.
Despite his injuries Ms Black said her Dad is 'doing pretty well'.
'My Dad said he even tried to get on the train with the guy instead of waiting for the ambulance, as though he was absolutely fine to go on with his day — shattered heel and all,' she said.
'The Public Transport Authority said it was a legit near miss, they won't release the CCTV as it could be triggering for people but it was a very close call.'
The West Australian also had their request to see the CCTV denied.
After posts to Facebook and Reddit, Mr McMahon's family was able to get in contact with the 'modest hero' who saved their Dad's life.
'What an absolute hero for risking his own life to save my Dad,' Ms Black said.
'The family were very happy we found him to thank him, I hope he lets us do something nice for him as a thank you.'
PTA transit manager Jeremy Carroll confirmed his team assisted in the reunion of Mr McMahon and 'his hero'.
'I would like to commend the member of the public for his quick thinking and helping the elderly gentleman that fell onto the train tracks,' he said.
'His quick thinking and just being in the right place at the right time has made this positive outcome possible.'
Mr Carroll said the organisation would not share the CCTV 'to respect the individuals right to privacy'.
'But we looked at it . . . we managed to identify the member of the public, and then we connected them,' he said.
'They were very, very appreciative and grateful for it, and we are very happy that it's all come to a positive outcome.'
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Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Hero' saves blind man who fell into path of oncoming train
A legally blind man has been able to track down a hero good Samaritan who saved his life after he fell from a train platform into the path of an oncoming train despite the Public Transport Authority refusing to help. Kevin McMahon, 85, was seconds from death after he accidentally walked off the side of the Beckenham Station platform on June 28, mistaking the train he was seeing as one on the opposite side of the platform. He shattered his heel, tore his rotator cuff and bruised his ribs. A young man who saw him fall, swiftly jumped onto the tracks as the train was approaching and helping him to safety. But by the time authorities arrived, the mystery hero had disappeared on the train he had been waiting for. It prompted Mr McMahon's daughter Kat Black to make a public call for help to find the man, believing her dad would have been hit had he not helped when he did. 'My Dad Kevin is legally blind, but insists on being as independent as possible, catching public transport by himself regularly,' she said. 'He was rushing for a train and didn't realise the train he was seeing was on the opposite platform and he went straight off the edge onto the tracks. 'A young man saw him fall and was helping him get off the tracks when an express train was approaching the platform, risking his own life to save my Dad.' Kevin McMahon was rescued by good Samaritan after falling onto train tracks at Beckenham Station. Credit: Facebook Mr McMahon remembered the kind stranger saying to him 'you are too heavy for me mate' but told his daughter he 'found some superhuman strength' once he saw a train coming towards them. Despite his injuries Ms Black said her Dad is 'doing pretty well'. 'My Dad said he even tried to get on the train with the guy instead of waiting for the ambulance, as though he was absolutely fine to go on with his day — shattered heel and all,' she said. 'The Public Transport Authority said it was a legit near miss, they won't release the CCTV as it could be triggering for people but it was a very close call.' The West Australian also had their request to see the CCTV denied. After posts to Facebook and Reddit, Mr McMahon's family was able to get in contact with the 'modest hero' who saved their Dad's life. 'What an absolute hero for risking his own life to save my Dad,' Ms Black said. 'The family were very happy we found him to thank him, I hope he lets us do something nice for him as a thank you.' PTA transit manager Jeremy Carroll confirmed his team assisted in the reunion of Mr McMahon and 'his hero'. 'I would like to commend the member of the public for his quick thinking and helping the elderly gentleman that fell onto the train tracks,' he said. 'His quick thinking and just being in the right place at the right time has made this positive outcome possible.' Mr Carroll said the organisation would not share the CCTV 'to respect the individuals right to privacy'. 'But we looked at it . . . we managed to identify the member of the public, and then we connected them,' he said. 'They were very, very appreciative and grateful for it, and we are very happy that it's all come to a positive outcome.'
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Texts reveal breakdown in Erin's marriage
A series of messages tendered into evidence in Erin Patterson's triple-murder trial provide a stark insight into the decline of her relationships. Patterson, 50, was found guilty of murdering three members of her husband Simon Patterson's family and the attempted murder of a fourth with a beef wellington lunch on July 29, 2023. She had pleaded not guilty, with her defence arguing the case was a tragic accident and Patterson did not intentionally poison the meal with death cap mushrooms. Erin Patterson denied she wanted to harm her in-laws. 9 NEWS. Credit: Supplied Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's younger sister, Heather Wilkinson, died in the week following the lunch while Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, recovered following a month and a half in hospital. During the trial, the jury heard Patterson and her husband had separated in 2015 but spent much of the following years maintaining an amicable relationship. Continuing to co-parent their two children, the couple remained friends and attended family events together and took family holidays. But, the jury was told, their relationship began to sour in the latter half of 2022. Simon Patterson gave evidence he understood this occurred after he was listed as separated on his tax return for the first time, believing this to have financial consequences for Patterson. Patterson herself disputed this account, but told the jury the relationship first began to change weeks later after Simon began refusing to pay medical bills and school fees. Simon Patterson, who remains married to Patterson, was the first witness called in the trial. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia Messages sent from Patterson to a Facebook chat group with women she'd grown close to online over a period of four days in December 2022 captured her 'true feelings', prosecutors alleged. But in emotional testimony, Patterson said she regretted sending those messages and that she'd unfairly directed her frustration with Simon onto his parents. 'I wish I'd never said it. I feel ashamed for saying it and I wish that the family didn't have to hear that I said that,' she said. 'They didn't deserve it.' Beginning on December 6 at 10.19am, the Facebook user Erin ErinErin, who Patterson identified as herself, vented that Don had contacted her to say he and Gail had tried to get Simon's side but 'he refused to talk about it'. 'So Don said they can't adjudicate if they don't know both sides and Simon won't give his side. (emoji),' the message continues. 'So he said all he can ask is that Simon and I get together to pray for the children (emoji) (emoji) this family I swear to f--king God. 'I said to him about fifty times yesterday that I didn't want them to adjudicate (emoji) nobody bloody listens to me. At least I know they're a lost cause.' A court sketch taken of Erin Patterson during the trial. NewsWire / Paul Tyquin Credit: News Corp Australia Responses from the other women in the group were edited out of the logs shown to the jury, but Patterson responds questioning if 'they've got any capacity for self reflection at all?' 'I mean clearly the fact that Simon refuses to talk about personal issue in part stems from the behaviour of his parents and how they operate, according to them they have never asked him what's going on with us, why I keep kicking him out, why his son hates him etc, it's too awkward or uncomfortable or something,' she wrote. 'So that's learned behaviour. Just don't talk about this s--t.' Patterson continues by saying she'd received a call from Don the previous night suggesting Simon and her 'get together and try to talk and pray together'. '... he also said Simon had indicated there was a solution to the financial issues if I withdraw the child support claim!' the messages continue. 'My head nearly exploded and I was like what?? And Don goes oh sorry just ignore what I said I don't want to get involved. 'So anyway I sent a group message to them all last night saying how Simon is behaving is unconscionable and asking me to withdraw the child support claim is wrong and disadvantages me and his children and how dare he etc.' Don and Gail Patterson died a day apart in early August 2023. Supplied Credit: Supplied The messages continue, with Patterson explaining Don had told her Gail and him 'didn't want to get involved in the financial things'. She writes she told Don she understands it was 'uncomfortable and awkward for them' but that Simon needs to be held accountable. 'I would hope they care about their grandchildren enough to care about what Simon is doing,' she writes. Patterson wrote Don had told her Simon refused to talk about their issues so Gail and he would be staying out of it. 'I'm sick of this s--t I want nothing to do with them,' she said. 'I thought his parents would want him to do the right thing but it seems their concern about not wanting to feel uncomfortable and not wanting to get involved in their sons personal matters are overriding that so f--k em.' The following day at 11.20am, Patterson writes that both Simon and his parents had messaged her the previous day but she did not want to read them. 'I don't want to hear it. Simon's will just be horrible and be gaslighting and abusive and it will ruin my day and his parents will be more weasel words about not getting involved so I think I'm going to just move on,' the message reads. Members of the Patterson and Wilkinson families, including lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson (centre), were present in court throughout the trial. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia Patterson then goes on to say Don and Gail had taken their son's side and suggested if their daughter was 'laying all the same complaints' against her husband, they would believe her. 'If their daughter's husband just walked away and refused to support her kids they would have things to say to him but by refusing to hold Simon to account they've made it clear his word means more than mine,' she writes. 'They've had Simon for tea every night for three months and never once picked up the phone to me since the separation and asked if I'm okay and need help. 'So that tells me their choices. Simon wants to walk away from his responsibilities too. Well that's his choice.' She goes on to write that maybe this is a 'blessing in disguise' and if Simon doesn't want to contribute to their children's private school fees, she could unilaterally decide to change schools. Two days later, on December 9, 2022, Patterson wrote one further message saying Simon's mum was 'horrified' she'd claimed child support for their two children. 'Why isn't she horrified her son is such a deadbeat that I had no choice but to claim?' In her closing address, senior Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC described the messages as 'bitter' and 'angry', suggesting the divide between Patterson and her in-laws was 'deeper than they ever knew'. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC led the prosecution case against Patterson. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia Dr Rogers argued Patterson had expressed her 'real feelings' towards her husband's family to her online friends. 'The point of this evidence is that it shows, we say, that the accused was leading a duplicitous life when it came to the Pattersons,' she said. 'When Don and Gail sent the accused messages about her ongoing financial issues with Simon and mentioned praying, she replied with an eye roll emoji. 'She was mocking them and their religious beliefs, despite attending church with them.' Patterson's defence, on the other hand, argued it was an 'entirely unremarkable minor blow up'. 'It stands out in this case because it's the only one. These people are eternally polite to one another,' barrister Colin Mandy SC said. Colin Mandy SC argued the dispute was an 'aberration' that ignored years of positive relationships. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Mandy argued the messages actually depicted Patterson venting to a supportive group of friends, suggesting jurors might think that was actually healthy. They (the prosecution) say to you ignore the long history of love and support … and instead rely on three days of upset from Erin and recollections of these online friends,' he said. 'This was an aberration in her dealings with the Pattersons and there's nothing to say otherwise.' The barrister suggested that the only reason these messages were before the jury was the prosecution scratching around to find some reason to explain why she would deliberately poison the beef wellington. 'They want to try and show that there was some kind of difficulty in the relationship between Erin and Simon and that that, 22 therefore, that might provide a reason for her to murder his parents and his aunt and uncle six months later, seven months later,' he argued. 'Even just saying it aloud demonstrates, in our submission to you, how unpersuasive that argument is.' Patterson will return to court at a later date.
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Erin Patterson: Texts reveal breakdown in mushroom killer's marriage
A series of messages tendered into evidence in Erin Patterson's triple-murder trial provide a stark insight into the decline of her relationships. Patterson, 50, was found guilty of murdering three members of her husband Simon Patterson's family and the attempted murder of a fourth with a beef wellington lunch on July 29, 2023. She had pleaded not guilty, with her defence arguing the case was a tragic accident and Patterson did not intentionally poison the meal with death cap mushrooms. Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's younger sister, Heather Wilkinson, died in the week following the lunch while Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, recovered following a month and a half in hospital. During the trial, the jury heard Patterson and her husband had separated in 2015 but spent much of the following years maintaining an amicable relationship. Continuing to co-parent their two children, the couple remained friends and attended family events together and took family holidays. But, the jury was told, their relationship began to sour in the latter half of 2022. Simon Patterson gave evidence he understood this occurred after he was listed as separated on his tax return for the first time, believing this to have financial consequences for Patterson. Patterson herself disputed this account, but told the jury the relationship first began to change weeks later after Simon began refusing to pay medical bills and school fees. Messages sent from Patterson to a Facebook chat group with women she'd grown close to online over a period of four days in December 2022 captured her 'true feelings', prosecutors alleged. But in emotional testimony, Patterson said she regretted sending those messages and that she'd unfairly directed her frustration with Simon onto his parents. 'I wish I'd never said it. I feel ashamed for saying it and I wish that the family didn't have to hear that I said that,' she said. 'They didn't deserve it.' Beginning on December 6 at 10.19am, the Facebook user Erin ErinErin, who Patterson identified as herself, vented that Don had contacted her to say he and Gail had tried to get Simon's side but 'he refused to talk about it'. 'So Don said they can't adjudicate if they don't know both sides and Simon won't give his side. (emoji),' the message continues. 'So he said all he can ask is that Simon and I get together to pray for the children (emoji) (emoji) this family I swear to f--king God. 'I said to him about fifty times yesterday that I didn't want them to adjudicate (emoji) nobody bloody listens to me. At least I know they're a lost cause.' Responses from the other women in the group were edited out of the logs shown to the jury, but Patterson responds questioning if 'they've got any capacity for self reflection at all?' 'I mean clearly the fact that Simon refuses to talk about personal issue in part stems from the behaviour of his parents and how they operate, according to them they have never asked him what's going on with us, why I keep kicking him out, why his son hates him etc, it's too awkward or uncomfortable or something,' she wrote. 'So that's learned behaviour. Just don't talk about this s--t.' Patterson continues by saying she'd received a call from Don the previous night suggesting Simon and her 'get together and try to talk and pray together'. '... he also said Simon had indicated there was a solution to the financial issues if I withdraw the child support claim!' the messages continue. 'My head nearly exploded and I was like what?? And Don goes oh sorry just ignore what I said I don't want to get involved. 'So anyway I sent a group message to them all last night saying how Simon is behaving is unconscionable and asking me to withdraw the child support claim is wrong and disadvantages me and his children and how dare he etc.' The messages continue, with Patterson explaining Don had told her Gail and him 'didn't want to get involved in the financial things'. She writes she told Don she understands it was 'uncomfortable and awkward for them' but that Simon needs to be held accountable. 'I would hope they care about their grandchildren enough to care about what Simon is doing,' she writes. Patterson wrote Don had told her Simon refused to talk about their issues so Gail and he would be staying out of it. 'I'm sick of this s--t I want nothing to do with them,' she said. 'I thought his parents would want him to do the right thing but it seems their concern about not wanting to feel uncomfortable and not wanting to get involved in their sons personal matters are overriding that so f--k em.' The following day at 11.20am, Patterson writes that both Simon and his parents had messaged her the previous day but she did not want to read them. 'I don't want to hear it. Simon's will just be horrible and be gaslighting and abusive and it will ruin my day and his parents will be more weasel words about not getting involved so I think I'm going to just move on,' the message reads. Patterson then goes on to say Don and Gail had taken their son's side and suggested if their daughter was 'laying all the same complaints' against her husband, they would believe her. 'If their daughter's husband just walked away and refused to support her kids they would have things to say to him but by refusing to hold Simon to account they've made it clear his word means more than mine,' she writes. 'They've had Simon for tea every night for three months and never once picked up the phone to me since the separation and asked if I'm okay and need help. 'So that tells me their choices. Simon wants to walk away from his responsibilities too. Well that's his choice.' She goes on to write that maybe this is a 'blessing in disguise' and if Simon doesn't want to contribute to their children's private school fees, she could unilaterally decide to change schools. Two days later, on December 9, 2022, Patterson wrote one further message saying Simon's mum was 'horrified' she'd claimed child support for their two children. 'Why isn't she horrified her son is such a deadbeat that I had no choice but to claim?' In her closing address, senior Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC described the messages as 'bitter' and 'angry', suggesting the divide between Patterson and her in-laws was 'deeper than they ever knew'. Dr Rogers argued Patterson had expressed her 'real feelings' towards her husband's family to her online friends. 'The point of this evidence is that it shows, we say, that the accused was leading a duplicitous life when it came to the Pattersons,' she said. 'When Don and Gail sent the accused messages about her ongoing financial issues with Simon and mentioned praying, she replied with an eye roll emoji. 'She was mocking them and their religious beliefs, despite attending church with them.' Patterson's defence, on the other hand, argued it was an 'entirely unremarkable minor blow up'. 'It stands out in this case because it's the only one. These people are eternally polite to one another,' barrister Colin Mandy SC said. Mr Mandy argued the messages actually depicted Patterson venting to a supportive group of friends, suggesting jurors might think that was actually healthy. They (the prosecution) say to you ignore the long history of love and support … and instead rely on three days of upset from Erin and recollections of these online friends,' he said. 'This was an aberration in her dealings with the Pattersons and there's nothing to say otherwise.' The barrister suggested that the only reason these messages were before the jury was the prosecution scratching around to find some reason to explain why she would deliberately poison the beef wellington. 'They want to try and show that there was some kind of difficulty in the relationship between Erin and Simon and that that, 22 therefore, that might provide a reason for her to murder his parents and his aunt and uncle six months later, seven months later,' he argued. 'Even just saying it aloud demonstrates, in our submission to you, how unpersuasive that argument is.' Patterson will return to court at a later date.
