Man Hangs Onto Fast-Moving Train in Austria After Being Left Behind

In a surprising event in Austria, a man managed to hold onto the outer part of a high-speed train, reportedly after it departed the station amid his smoke break.

The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, latched onto the train as it was pulling away from Sankt Poelten, located to the west of Vienna, according to railway representative Herbert Hofer.

"This behavior is recklessly dangerous, often leading to deadly outcomes," Hofer remarked. "Moreover, such actions endanger others, including rescue teams and various emergency services."

The passenger was ultimately brought inside after the train initiated an emergency halt.

The railjet, en route from Zurich to Vienna, departed Sankt Poelten as scheduled but reached Vienna with a delay of seven minutes, according to Hofer.

A passenger onboard reported that the man leapt into the space between two train cars as the train commenced its journey from the station.

Taking advantage of the stop, the man had gone to the platform for a cigarette, Heute noted. After boarding, he began hitting windows to draw attention, prompting the conductor to engage the emergency stop, subsequently allowing train personnel to assist him inside.

"The train conductor was quite stern with him," a fellow passenger shared with Heute.

Identified as a 24-year-old Algerian by Heute, the man was met by police upon arrival at Vienna's Meidling station.

Hofer refrained from providing details about the man's background, citing ongoing investigations.

Similarly, in an episode this past January, a Hungarian man, aged 40, held onto a German high-speed train for approximately 20 miles after it left without him during a similar smoking break, anxious not to lose his belongings, as per CBS News partner reports.