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Woman rescues man who got stuck while trying to climb over train in Gardner

A stopped train in Gardner caused an unlikely rescue in Gardner as a woman helped a man who got stuck while trying to climb between two train cars.

The train was stopped across East Broadway in Gardner for an unknown amount of time, and the man tried to climb over its side while hoping it would stay still.

During his attempt, the man slipped, causing his foot to get caught in the coupling apparatus.

Jennifer Ringuette was turning left in her car, when she saw the man in trouble to her right.

"I thought maybe he was a train conductor or train worker trying to fix the cars," Ringuette said. "Then, I noticed him stumbling, and then he fell."

Ringuette didn't hesitate, jumping into action to help the man.

"I just ran right out of my car and tried to lift him up," Ringuette said.

Another driver in a stopped car nearby caught the rescue attempt on video, which has been seen hundreds of times on social media.

"My heart was pounding," Ringuette said. "I was shaking. I just wanted him out of there, you know, to make sure he was safe."

The man had a prosthetic leg, which created a problem in the attempted rescue.

"He was stuck," Ringuette said. "There was no way he was getting his foot out of there."

Ringuette didn't let the challenges deter her, even while not knowing when the train would move.

"Once I freed his foot, he fell on the ground," Ringuette said. "Then, I climbed over and grabbed him by the shoulders, and just tried dragging him."

Video didn't catch that part of the rescue, as the woman filming everything also came over to help.

"I said, 'Did you get that on video?'" Ringuette said to the woman after the incident. "She said yes, and I said, 'Oh, send it to me in Messenger.' And I just happened to share it on Facebook."

Ringuette wasn't expecting interviews or fame for the rescue, and just wanted to help a man in trouble.

"God puts people in people's lives at the right places at the right times," Ringuette said. "I didn't even think twice. Just share love and give love to others. That's what we're meant to do here."