This was the moment a man dressed in a Santa costume diced with death by running across a level crossing moments before a train sped through.
Network Rail issued a warning after footage showed a pair of Christmas revellers risking their lives as they sprinted across the tracks at Grove Park in Chiswick.
The CCTV shows the barriers go down before a man dressed as Santa climbs over the railings before hurtling across the train line.
He squeezes through the gap between the two barriers on the other side as his friend also makes the foolhardy dash at just before 11.30pm on December 22.
The careless pedestrians could have been hit with a train speeding along at up to 60 mph, Network Rail warned.
More than 172 trains speed past the busy junction, on Grove Park Terrace in west London, every day.
Becky Lumlock, route managing director at the train company, said: “There’s no excuse for this kind of reckless behaviour.
“Trains go over this stretch of line at up to 60 mph, and once the barriers are down that means a train is imminently approaching.
“A trip or a stumble while trying to run across is all it would take, and the train driver wouldn’t have enough time to stop.
British Transport Police inspector Becky Warren said: “Despite our constant warnings about using crossings safely and the dangers of the railway, incredibly some people are still willing to put their lives on the line by ignoring crossing instructions, not looking properly or by trying to dash across crossings when trains are approaching.
“This footage is frightening to watch as this quick jump across the barriers could have killed him. It is difficult to understand why he would take such a risk but I hope he never does it again.
“As a police officer, I have had to deliver messages to families that their loved one has been killed by a train at a level crossing. Please, think and never take the risk.”
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Network Rail’s Ms Lumlock added: “I’d like to urge anyone who uses level crossings to do so safely, and please don’t ever be tempted to cross when a train is approaching.
“Please think about your own safety, and the impact that it could have on your families and the train driver. It really isn’t worth the risk.”
