Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire/@tintuccapnhatphuctruong

This is the moment firefighters rescue a middle-aged man covered in oil from under a train after he was hit by the locomotive and lived to tell the tale.

The incident took place in the city of Ho Chi Minh, formerly Saigon, in southern Vietnam when the train was approaching the populous city from the coastal town of Phan Thiet.

According to local media, the train hit the 45-year-old man, identified as Tran Thanh Quang, while he was running across the tracks at around 4.30pm when it was drawing near.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire/@capnhattinmoingay & AsiaWire & AsiaWire/@tintuccapnhatphuctruong

The diesel train driver applied the brakes quickly and reportedly prevented tragedy.

The emergency services were called and the man was found to be alive with his hand trapped in a wheel axle.

It took rescue workers over half an hour to release Quang, who was rushed to a nearby hospital to the relief of onlookers.

In the footage, a large crowd is seen gathered around the stationary train as firefighters help the trapped man.

A stretcher is brought to the scene and Quang is pulled from underneath the train with axle grease seen covering his right arm and face.

As he is taken away, his right hand appears limp and possibly broken.

At the end of the clip, he is seen being put into the back of a waiting ambulance.

It is currently unclear whether the local authorities are investigating the accident.