A circus performer leaped on to a railway line to drag a convulsing boy off the live rail and out of the path of an approaching train.

Jason Charles had been waiting on the platform at Fishersgate, near Brighton, when he saw the 12-year-old trip over.

With the help of another man, he dragged the barely conscious youngster - who had suffered serious burns - to the platform. He gave first aid until paramedics arrived.

Jason, 21, of Shirley Street, Hove, has been told that the boy would have died without him. He has now been nominated for a bravery award.

He said today: "I saw four or five lads running across the track as I was waiting for the train to Hove. One of them tripped and fell on to the live rail and was badly burned.

"I went to the end of the platform and asked if he was all right but he wasn't talking or moving and it was obvious he was in a pretty bad way.

"I looked up and saw the headlight of a train approaching and knew that I had to do something before it got to the station.

"I jumped down on to the track and pulled him off the live rail and we got him on to the platform.

"He was convulsing and frothing at the mouth so I checked his airways, took the burnt clothes of his wounds, put him in the recovery position and put my jacket over him to keep him warm.

"I have not done a first aid course before so I don't know where all that came from - probably from watching too much television."

Jason sent one of the boy's friends to get his parents, another to call an ambulance and two more out to the road to wait for paramedics.

He then stayed with the injured boy - whose name is Ricky - until his parents and paramedics arrived.

The injured 12-year-old was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, with serious burns to his stomach, face and arms.

He was later transferred to a specialist burns unit at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. He is now out of danger but will undergo a series of skin grafts.

Jason, who moved to Hove a month ago, works as a broadband adviser for communications company NTL in Gardner Road, Fishergate.

He had previously worked as a circus performer in the Milton Keynes area, riding a unicycle and juggling with firebrands as part of his act, and moved to Hove to be with his girlfriend, a Sussex University student.

Inspector Gary Ancell of British Transport Police said today: "It was certainly a very brave thing for him to do and he undoubtedly saved the boy's life.

"Most people would think twice before pulling someone off a live rail as there is a real chance that they could be badly hurt themselves.

"Jason left the scene once he was sure that the boy's parents were there and that he was being looked after by paramedics.

"I am sure they will want to thank him for what he did and I shall be putting him forward for an award for his bravery."