A man who pushed a passenger on to the track at a railway station has been warned he faces jail.

Victim John Gibbs fell on to the track at Crawley station and touched the live rail, which had 750 volts running through it.

He amazed onlookers by getting up, running across the tracks and climbing on to the opposite platform to get away from his attacker.

An ambulance was called but after paramedics gave Mr Gibbs a check-up he was found to be unharmed and did not need hospital treatment.

Stuart McLean, of South Holmes Road, Horsham, admitted endangering the safety of a rail passenger on January 30 when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

The incident was captured on CCTV at the station and seen by passengers waiting with Mr Gibbs on platform two to catch a train.

A team of workmen installing a new ticket machine on the platform were only feet away from Mr Gibbs when he fell.

The court heard that McLean, 23, at first claimed Mr Gibbs had fallen by accident during a struggle but now accepted he had deliberately pushed him.

Judge Guy Anthony adjourned sentence until August 19 and told McClean he could be sent to jail.

Detective Constable Mark Chambers said: "The actual consequences of this attack could have been the death of John Gibbs.

"It is was absolutely miraculous he survived."

Mr Chambers said McClean launched an unprovoked attack on Mr Gibbs before running off.

He said: "Mr Gibbs was not seriously hurt.

"He pushed himself off the live rail, ran across the tracks and climbed on to the other platform."

Minka Braun, defending, said McClean had himself been the victim of a horrendous attack on the railways when he was thrown off a railway bridge, resulting in a broken back.

She said: "At the time of the offence the defendant was going through a difficult time in his life.

"He had his back broken as a result of an assault when he was thrown off a railway bridge and landed on the platform.

"It was believed at the time he would not walk again and was housebound for almost a year and had to wear a neck brace. He fell into depression and turned to drink."

McClean was remanded on bail.