From left, nurses Justine Ibbotson, Stephanie Zak and Lorraine Martin, who were on the train when the boy was hit on Tonge Viaduct
Nurses who gave first aid to a 16-year-old-boy hit by a train in Bolton said they acted instinctively.
They were travelling on the train from Manchester to Clitheroe on Wednesday evening when it struck the teenager on Tonge Viaduct.
Stephanie Zak and Justine Ibbotson jumped off the train and helped to keep the boy alive until paramedics arrived with a stretcher.
Lorraine Martin stayed on board to help look after the shocked passengers.
The three nurses were travelling home after a shopping trip to Manchester.
Mrs Martin, aged 45, is visiting the UK for two weeks after emigrating to Australia four years ago.
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Mrs Zak, aged 43, lives in Clitheroe and works as a practice nurse in Whalley.
The mother-of-four said: "We just did what any nurse would do in that situation - it is instinctive to help.
The scene of the accident
"The boy was unconscious and had nasty head injuries, but he was breathing. We helped to keep him stable until the paramedics arrived.
"We maintained his airway and made sure he did not have a heart attack.
"We are optimistic and hope he will pull through."
Mrs Ibbotson, aged 40, who works in Blackburn, said: "When we got off the train, we had no idea what we were going to find. We did the best we could."
Mrs Martin said: "People on the train were getting agitated because they did not know what was going on. We did not get home until after midnight because it took a long time to move him."
Safety procedures and concerns for the boy's injuries meant it took two hours before he was put in an ambulance.
The train had to reverse to the point where it had hit the boy and he was carried on board using a stretcher.
The train continued to an access point on Union Road, where an ambulance was waiting.
Last night, the boy was still seriously ill at the Royal Bolton Hospital.
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