Vic: Bravery award for man who saved girl from electrocution

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2004
Vic: Bravery award for man who saved girl from electrocution

EDS: Strictly embargoed until 0001 AEST Thursday August 12

MELBOURNE, Aug 12 AAP - A Melbourne man who saved a girl from electrocution on a train
roof has been honoured with a national bravery award.

John Christofilakis, who today received a bravery medal, was in Nunawading, in Melbourne's
east, on December 3, last year when he heard screams for help coming from the nearby railway
station.

Running towards the station, Mr Christofilakis saw smoke coming from the roof of a
stationary train and smelt burning.

He saw a girl lying on the train carriage roof on top of live power coils which fed
a 1500-volt electrical current into the train.

Another girl, also on the train roof, was screaming for help as she saw her friend
being shocked, Mr Christofilakis said.

He said the pair had been trying to train surf.

Despite knowing he could be electrocuted, Mr Christofilakis, 34, climbed onto the train roof.

"She was smouldering face down on the roof," he said.

"I saw she had runners on so I grabbed her by the runners"

Touching only the rubber running shoes, he dragged the girl, who had suffered severe
burns to her arms, chest and legs, away from the power coils before lowering her to the
platform.

He said he then cleared the girl's airway and talked to her until paramedics arrived.

He was assisted by a woman who held the girl's hand, he said.

Mr Christofilakis could see the girl's heart slowing as he cradled her head in his arm.

"She was the strongest girl I have ever met," he said.

Although he was proud of his efforts, Mr Christofilakis said the experience had been traumatic.

"It's probably the greatest achievement in my life," he said.

"I'm proud of it, but I don't feel like a hero."

AAP kw/gfr/tma/jlw

KEYWORD: BRAVERY VIC (EMBARGOED)

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