VIDEO: Child falls into gap between train and platform

A heart-stopping video of a young child falling into a gap between a train and the platform has been released to warn parents of travel safety.

Surveillance footage at Sydenham station in New South Wales, Australia, shows a boy walking towards a train with his mother, who can be seen pushing a pram, before he falls into the platform gap.

Shocked commuters tried to pull the boy up to safety while others ran to the front of the train to warn the driver not to move the train.

The boy was saved and did not sustain any injuries, reported 9News Australia.

A station operator stayed with the mother as she tried to comfort her son.

According to the Transport for NSW, the incident happened in February this year but the department released the footage as part of a campaign to remind parents to watch their children when traveling by train during the school holidays.

Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said accidents can be avoided if parents and guardians pay attention to children in their care.

Mr Constance said: "As a parent, I know how hard it can be to juggle travel with young children, but a simple thing such as holding your child's hand when moving around stations and boarding a train can help prevent them from being seriously injured or worse."

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Howard Collins said incidents like these are more common at busy stations.

He reminded parents not to rush around stations or platforms and said: "We now have more trains services than ever before, so the next train in only a few minutes away."

In the past year, there were nearly 200 accidents involving children getting injured across the train network in Australia, it is reported.

Among those, 68 of them fell through the gap between the platform and the train.

Here is the video courtesy of CNA: