Filmed in Mawson Lakes, South Australia on CCTV, this harrowing footage shows a teenage boy brazenly crossing a track in front of an oncoming train and avoiding death by the narrowest of margins.

The video, captured in April of this year, was just released by South Australia’s Department for Transport as a part of National Rail Safety Week and features voice-over from a train conductor explaining just how frightening it is to see someone on the tracks.

"We can put the brakes on but I don't think people realise it takes at least 100-200 metres to stop. We can't be sure whether or not we have hit them or not, we can only what to see if they come out from the side ... it's a horrible feeling not knowing.''

Though the boy was clipped by the train, he sustained only minor injuries. He was, however, convicted of stopping and impeding the operation of a train.

[via 9News]