Mythbusters does a 14-year old Aussie punk rocker good

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Queasy

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
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Mark O'Dwyer owes his life to a 14-year-old punk rocker and an edgy television science program.

The 54-year-old was waiting at Lisarow train station on the Central Coast at 2.45pm on October 19 when he fainted and toppled two metres from the platform onto the tracks below, as a freight train bore down on the station.

Julian Shaw, who is 180 centimetres tall and weighs 70 kilograms, was travelling home from school with classmates when he saw Mr O'Dwyer, who is 187 centimetres tall and weighs 110 kilograms, fall. Julian leapt into action.

"I jumped down on to the tracks, lifted him off the ground and put him on my shoulder - he was heavy but there was enough adrenaline rushing through to help me," said Julian, who is in year 9 at Lisarow High School and plays guitar in punk rock band Checkered Fist.

With the train "just a couple of metres away", Julian moved the North Gosford resident to the edge of the track and rolled him under the platform.

But danger was not totally averted.

"[As the train roared past] the noise pierced your ears and there was a suction that pulled us in," Julian said.

"I'd seen that on MythBusters, so I stayed right back and pulled Mark back towards me."

The train eventually passed safely, and the pair chatted until ambulance officers arrived.

"What an amazing young man," said Mr O'Dwyer, recovering at home with a back injury, three fractured ribs, a fractured shoulder, damaged knee and general bruising.

"What he did was amazing. He took it upon himself and saved my life.

"I was very emotional [afterwards], I gave him a hug and thanked him for saving my life."

Mr O'Dwyer said teenagers usually did not get much positive publicity, but it was important to "highlight when someone of this age group stands up and does what Julian's done".

"I had my girlfriend make him a medallion recognising his bravery, humanity, and what he did," he said.

The Department of Education has also sent Julian a formal letter of commendation.

Julian has already written a song about the incident for his band, featuring the chorus "I saved your soul".

He couldn't explain what spurred him to help Mr O'Dwyer - a stranger - despite the danger to himself.

"It was scary [but] I probably would have felt heaps bad if I didn't jump in," he said.

"Everyone at school knows about it - kids are buying me ice-blocks and hamburgers."

Julian's proud mother, Rachel, said the public reaction to Julian's brave deed had surprised her.

"A lot of people have called up saying 'I don't think I could've done what he did,' " she said.
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imported_LoKe

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
19,723
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Yep, a 14 year old punk rocker who watches Mythbusters.

Real badass.

He couldn't explain what spurred him to help Mr O'Dwyer - a stranger - despite the danger to himself.
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...Maybe the fact that someone's life was at risk?
 
Queasy

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
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Originally posted by: Electric Amish
"I'd seen that on MythBusters, so I stayed right back and pulled Mark back towards me."
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I thought Mythbusters DISPROVED this??
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Link

Myth statement:
The vortex from a passing train can suck a person onto the tracks.

Status Notes:
Busted

Although small scale testing with model trains in a wind tunnel showed a vortex, the more dominant force when running the full size train was the air turbulence running alongside and away from the train. The force caused Ted, a dummy made of ballistics gel, to simply fall down where he stood rather than be drawn into the train's wake, and also violently pushed around an empty stroller tethered onto the platform alongside. Despite the lack of suction, the MythBusters agreed that the turbulence was powerful enough in its own right to make standing that close to the train as it passes very dangerous.
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So it was busted but the turbulence is still dangerous.
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: Electric Amish
"I'd seen that on MythBusters, so I stayed right back and pulled Mark back towards me."
Click to expand...

I thought Mythbusters DISPROVED this??
Click to expand...

Link

Myth statement:
The vortex from a passing train can suck a person onto the tracks.

Status Notes:
Busted

Although small scale testing with model trains in a wind tunnel showed a vortex, the more dominant force when running the full size train was the air turbulence running alongside and away from the train. The force caused Ted, a dummy made of ballistics gel, to simply fall down where he stood rather than be drawn into the train's wake, and also violently pushed around an empty stroller tethered onto the platform alongside. Despite the lack of suction, the MythBusters agreed that the turbulence was powerful enough in its own right to make standing that close to the train as it passes very dangerous.
Click to expand...

So it was busted but the turbulence is still dangerous.
Click to expand...

Yea but their test was on a open area not a closed in area like what happened here. Not sure what Diff it would make but a different setup.

 
kranky

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
Originally posted by: LoKe
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Sounds like the kid is going to get cocky about it rather quickly...
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Already wrote a song patting himself on the back.
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I think if you're 14 years old and put your own life at risk to save a stranger's life, you have earned the right to be a little cocky. I have no issue with the song - what teenage band writes songs about anything OTHER than what happens in their lives?
 
waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: kranky
Originally posted by: LoKe
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Sounds like the kid is going to get cocky about it rather quickly...
Click to expand...

Already wrote a song patting himself on the back.
Click to expand...

I think if you're 14 years old and put your own life at risk to save a stranger's life, you have earned the right to be a little cocky. I have no issue with the song - what teenage band writes songs about anything OTHER than what happens in their lives?
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yeap.

i don't blame the kid. he earned the right to be cocky
 
P

paulxcook

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,277
1
0
Originally posted by: LoKe
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Sounds like the kid is going to get cocky about it rather quickly...
Click to expand...

Already wrote a song patting himself on the back.
Click to expand...

That's a bit silly, but he's a 14 year old kid that did an amazing thing most people probably wouldn't have done. He'd earned the right to feel good about himself.
 
rivan

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
81
Originally posted by: paulxcook
Originally posted by: LoKe
Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Sounds like the kid is going to get cocky about it rather quickly...
Click to expand...

Already wrote a song patting himself on the back.
Click to expand...

That's a bit silly, but he's a 14 year old kid that did an amazing thing most people probably wouldn't have done. He'd earned the right to feel good about himself.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
P

paulxcook

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,277
1
0
Originally posted by: LoKe
Originally posted by: paulxcook
most people probably wouldn't have done.
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And that is where the problem lies.
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Agreed. And I don't even think most people would think "I'm not risking my life for that guy", they'd probably just stare dumbly, kind of like at a Youtube video.
 
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