Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a moment of instinctive bravery, Tarek Mohamed Bares, a railway crossing guard at the Sadat Bridge level crossing in Beni Suef, Egypt, saved a young man from certain death just seconds before an oncoming train would have struck him.
“I didn’t think about myself,” Tarek said. “It was like my body moved before my mind did. I just ran to save him.”
Tarek, known affectionately by locals as “Uncle Tarek,” explained the dangers of his job, which many might see as simple but in fact carries significant responsibility. “We take turns working at the crossing,” he said, “and every train is a potential threat. A moment’s carelessness can cost a life. I’m always holding the whistle, warning people not to cross until the train passes.”
Describing the incident, Tarek recounted: “That day, I was doing my usual shift when I heard the train coming. I started blowing the whistle and shouting to alert people, and suddenly I saw a young man trying to cross the tracks at speed as if he were racing death. I kept shouting and signaling, but he didn’t respond. He just kept walking.”
It was at that critical moment that instinct took over. “I felt like even a single second could make the difference between life and death. I didn’t stop to think. I just ran and grabbed him, pulling him away from the tracks with all my strength. The train passed by a moment later.”
Despite the danger, Tarek insists he doesn’t see himself as a hero. “Even if I had been the one hit, thank God it turned out okay. I don’t see what I did as heroic. It was simply my duty. What matters most to me is that people realize the danger and stop underestimating railway crossings. This isn’t a game it’s a matter of life and death.”
Tarek’s courageous act quickly spread on social media, where a video of the moment went viral. Viewers praised the crossing guard’s bravery and selflessness, with many calling for him to be officially honored for his actions. In the eyes of the public, “Uncle Tarek” is not just a railway worker he’s a true local hero.
