When most people see a fight between strangers, they walk away.

Or, in this day and age, they whip out their phones and begin recording.

But one young man realized the danger immediately as a fight broke out next to the tracks of a Chicago train line. 

Anthony Perry, 20, had just got off his train when he saw the two men attacking each other. 

“I immediately noticed there was a fight because both guys got their dukes up – they were like putting their stuff down,” Perry said.

But the fight took a terrifying turn when both men fell off the platform and onto the train tracks. The fight, he said, continued.

Police later said that one of the men was waiting for a train when the other spit in his face and then punched him. 

Anthony Perry saved a passenger from electrocution. Photo by Anthony Tahlier

When the suspected instigator was hit, he tumbled onto the third rail which was electrified, and immediately jolted him with 600 volts. As the man convulsed, others on the platform began filming, local news CBS2 reported.

“The guy didn’t have no control over his body,” Perry said. He quickly ran to the edge of the platform, jumping off onto the rails below.

“I did hear somebody say as I got on the track, ‘Don’t touch him!’” he said.

I could’ve kept walking, but I was like, you know what? I’m not going to keep walking because God wouldn’t want me to do that so I took action immediately.”

Perry said he did receive one jolt as he grabbed the man. “It was strong – like it went through my whole body. I remember after that, my whole body was still kind of shaky,” he said.

After pulling the unconscious man to safety, Perry and another good Samaritan who had jumped down, began CPR. The man regained consciousness.

When recalling the rescue to reporters later, Perry spoke about the shock he felt afterward. “I was kind of like, dang, I did that? That was me? I was kind of surprised that I would take myself to that level — but I’m kind of not surprised, because I’m always helping people. That’s my instinct.”

He says he still doesn’t see himself any differently. “I was thinking about, if that was me in that situation, how would I want people to treat me? I’m just happy that the guy was alive, more than anything. I didn’t see myself as a hero, to be honest.”

But to another local Chicago philanthropist Early Walker, the young man deserved a reward. Perry, who had been using the train that day due to his car breaking down, was given a 2008 Audi A6.

Anthony Perry was gifted a 2008 Audi A6 given by businessman Early Walker for his heroism. Photo by Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

Walker, along with police and community members, were on hand to praise the young man.

“We just wanted to honor you,” Walker told Perry.

We wanted to literally show our appreciation because we need more people like you. We need more Anthonys in the world.

“Anthony thought of the victim and not necessarily himself in this quick decision to save the victim’s life,” he said to those in attendance.

Police are still looking for the other man involved in the fight. The man Perry rescued, police said, was in serious condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Shortly after his brave rescue, the Chicago Fire Department got in contact and recruited him. Perry is now training to be an EMT.

He said he never thought about whether or not he would get hurt that day; and there was a simple reason why.

“The word I’ll use is faith,” Perry said. “Faith over fear.”

For a look at the amazing rescue, watch below. (A warning: the video is disturbing – viewer discretion is advised.)

Sources: NYPost | USA Today | Reader’s Digest