A man has been taken to Tauranga Hospital following a near collision with a train early on Thursday evening.

In a heart-stopping moment of quick thinking, a train narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic collision as it sounded its horn and screeched to a halt to prevent hitting a man on crutches who was crossing the Waikareao Estuary Rail Bridge.

The dramatic scene quickly unfolded as half a dozen youths, who had been diving into the water below, rushed to the aid of the man, assisting him to safety just moments before the train arrived.

“Around 5pm today, a southbound train was forced to stop on the Waikareao Estuary Rail Bridge,” says onlooker Lindsay Richards.

“A man had previously been seen hobbling with crutches across the rail bridge, then he lay down about a third of the way across."

The Waikareo Estuary Rail Bridge is near Maxwells Street beach which is a popular swimming spot. Photo: Lindsay Richards.

Richard says half a dozen youths who were on the bridge enjoying diving into the water below helped move the man away from the rails. 

“One youth called down to a woman below on the beach who then rang the police,” says Richard.

“A minute or so after the police arrived the train appeared, its horn blasting for a 30-second-long period.”

The train's horn could be heard by SunLive readers on The Strand.

"It was very scary hearing that," says a SunLive reader. "You just knew it wasn't good, that something was happening, that someone was in trouble."

Richard says the train stopped just short of the man. 

“Police approached the man and escorted him off the bridge,” says Richard.

The Waikareao Railway Bridge  links Tauranga to Ōtūmoetai by rail and runs parallel to the Chapel Street Bridge and walkway. Photo: Lindsay Richards.

“Police were called to Maxwells Road at 5pm where a male was seen on/near the train tracks,” says a police spokesperson.

“He was taken to hospital by Police to be checked.

“The train stopped at the time and has since continued on.”

The incident is a reminder of both the dangers of railway crossings and the power of community action, thanks to the swift response of bystanders that has helped avert tragedy.