Noah Hodgkiss admits he was foolish to go down on to the railway tracks just to look for a dropped mobile phone.
Considering he has cataracts, is deaf and had a flat hearing-aid battery, downright suicidal might be a better description.
Unaware of the 100mph train thundering up behind him, the 56-year-old glanced over his shoulder at the last second to see it.
He tried to leap out of the way but it was too late and the train smashed into him, hurtling him forwards.
But incredibly he survived, albeit with a broken pelvis, ribs, arm and fingers.
Yesterday Mr Hodgkiss, who discharged himself from hospital after three days, told of his 'unbelievably lucky' escape and insisted: 'I'm not a hero, I'm an idiot.
'I was right in the middle of the two tracks when it happened,' he said. 'Before I knew what was going on it was on me.
'I tried to leap out of the way by pushing myself off the ground, but it hit me from behind.
'It forced me along for a few yards before I got out of the way and fell to the floor.
'I was still conscious and as I looked around I realised I was under the bridge. It was then I started desperately shouting for help. Luckily, someone taking their dog for a walk heard my cries and phoned 999.
'A police officer who found me said that he couldn't believe that I was still alive and the doctors at the hospital even said they were astounded that I survived.'
The former circuit board maker had been walking home when he accidentally dropped his mobile off a bridge in Tibberton, Worcestershire, at 7.30pm on Saturday.
He was struck by the 5.45pm Cardiff to Birmingham passenger service. The driver slammed on his brakes and also phoned for help.
Paramedics found Mr Hodgkiss lying next to the track, sedated him took him to Worcester Royal Hospital.
He said: 'I know I have been unbelievably lucky and I can tell you I will never go anywhere near the railway lines again.
'I don't even have the phone any more - it's in A & E somewhere smashed into a million pieces.
'I just want people to realise that they shouldn't go on to the tracks for any reason and I'm so grateful for everyone that has helped me.'
The most recent available figures from the Office for Rail Regulation show that 217 people died in Britain in 2007 after venturing out on to train tracks.
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