Imagine this: You're enjoying a peaceful smoke break when suddenly, the train you're on starts to pull away, and you find yourself hanging on for dear life! That's exactly what happened to a 24-year-old man in Austria who survived an unbelievable ride clinging to the outside of a high-speed train.

On Saturday, as the train departed Sankt Poelten, west of Vienna, the unidentified man was caught off guard when he jumped onto the train after stepping onto the platform to enjoy a cigarette. According to Herbert Hofer, a spokesman for the railways, the situation was beyond reckless. “It is irresponsible; this kind of thing usually ends up with someone dying,” he told AFP, highlighting the dangers not just to the man but also to the emergency responders who would have had to risk their lives to help.

Fortunately, this story didn’t end in tragedy. After the man began banging on the windows in desperate attempts to be noticed, the train conductor activated the emergency brake. The train was on a route from Zurich, Switzerland, to Vienna, and although it departed Sankt Poelten on time, it arrived in Vienna slightly delayed – about 7 minutes late. The dramatic series of events unfolded as the passenger jumped into the narrow space between two carriages, trying to stay connected to the train.

Once brought aboard, the passenger faced a stern reprimand from the conductor, according to another passenger present. The young man, originally from Algeria, was later escorted away by police upon arriving at Vienna's Meidling station, leaving many to wonder what could have driven him to such a reckless act.

This incident might sound shocking, but it's not an isolated case. Just earlier this year, a Hungarian man clung to a German high-speed train for 20 miles after a similar cigarette break mishap! He explained he didn’t want to leave his luggage behind. What’s going on with these train escapades? Sometimes, the thrill of life can push people to extreme lengths, but at what cost?