Man survives trip on outside of high-speed train in Austria

A man has survived a journey on the outside of a high-speed train in Austria after reportedly using a station stop to smoke a cigarette on the platform.

- Agence France-Presse

The man grabbed onto the train at St Pölten station, west of Vienna, late on Saturday, said Austrian railways spokesperson Herbert Hofer. He was later taken onboard after the train performed an emergency stop.

"It is irresponsible. This kind of thing usually ends up with someone dying," Hofer said.

"And you're not just putting yourself in danger; if you end up under the train there's rescuers, there's police, fire service that come."