A 15-year-old boy is being hailed a hero after jumping onto the train tracks in Essex to rescue a woman in a mobility scooter who had been thrown out of her seat.

Ben Clarke, from Rayleigh, was on his way home from the gym on Thursday when a “freak accident” occurred at Rayleigh train station.

Witnesses claimed a woman in a mobility scooter had “catapulted” onto the tracks after the accelerator on her mobility scooter jammed.

The woman went over the edge of the platform and fell onto the tracks.

Without hesitation, a number of witnesses attempted to help the disabled lady.

This included 15-year-old teenager Ben, who jumped straight onto the tracks to assist and help get the woman up.

After a friend of the lady posted on Facebook looking for the youngster to thank him, Ben has been hailed as a “local hero”.

His mum, Kerri Clarke, said: “After getting over the initial shock that he had jumped onto the tracks and put his life at risk, my family and I are so proud of what Ben did.

“Reading all the messages and him being called a hero makes us so proud.

“We would hope that others faced with the same situation would have done the same.”

She added: “Ben said he was walking back home and whilst approaching the stairs on the platform heard a scream and a crash.

“He turned around to see a person on the track and a mobility scooter. He ran up the platform and jumped onto the track as some other people came to join him.

“Ben is pretty relaxed with what happened, I think he was a bit embarrassed being classed as a ‘local hero’  After all, he is a teenager.

“But he has nothing to be embarrassed about. He has made us all proud. Ben is just most concerned about the lady and her being OK.”

It is reported that the lady was taken to hospital for treatment but is believed to be home now and is looking forward to thanking Ben in person.

The British Transport Police and the East of England Ambulance Service have been contacted for comment by the Echo.