Screen shot of the surveillance footage.(Photo/Changsha Evening News)

Screen shot of the surveillance footage.(Photo/Changsha Evening News)

Mr. Tan was pushed off the train platform at Hunan province's Xiangtan Railway Station on July 17, all because he spit on the floor.

Another man, standing nearby, regarded Tan's action as "insulting," provoking him to shove Tan into the path of an oncoming train. Fortunately, Tan jumped aside just in time and survived. Mr. Li, the man who assaulted Tan, has been arrested on suspicion of intentional assault. 

"Being pushed down from such a high platform, I actually didn't tumble. I'd have been dead but for my quick reaction," said Tan. 

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on July 17, as a train from Changsha drew into Xiangtan Station. Passengers who witnessed the event exclaimed with fear and then relief as Tan fell and then managed to escape. 

Police arrived quickly and arrested Li. It was quickly confirmed that the two men, Tan and Li, were total strangers. 

According to Li, he had been sitting next to Tan in the waiting room and noticed him spitting on the floor quite frequently. The behavior made Li angry. As they both headed toward the platform and Tan continued spitting, Li began to feel personally insulted. That is when he pushed Tan off the platform. Li said calmly, "I wanted to warn other people that they shouldn't treat me like that."

Police learned that Li was raised by an aunt after his father died young and his mother remarried. Because of an unhappy childhood, Li is quick to anger. Upon hearing Li's story, Tan said, "I know it is a bad habit to spit, but I didn't mean to disrespect anyone. I will never spit again."