HAPPIER DAYS: Mickayla Friend with her boyfriend Mateus Moore, who saved her life. Facebook photo HAPPIER DAYS: Mickayla Friend with her boyfriend Mateus Moore, who saved her life. Facebook photo

A teenage boy died while trying to save his girlfriend from an oncoming train in California. The incident took place when the couple were walking on the train tracks near their school on Friday.

The boy, Mateus Moore, 16, was taking his 16-year-old girlfriend Mickayla Friend to a Sadie Hawkins Day dance.

The two had decided to go get something to eat from a nearby Dollar Tree before heading to the dance at the Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts where both of them were studying.

Reports indicate that neither teen noticed the train until it was too late.

"The engineer was on the horn," said Sean Stark, a witness. "Then finally, they both looked back at the same time."

The teenage boy made a split second decision and pushed Mickayla out of the train's way.

"They would have both been underneath that train if he didn't push her out of the way at the last second," said Stark.

Mickayla's sister, Alithya, said: "He was amazing he loved her more than anyone - it's just a life cut short and it's not fair."

While Mateus died on the spot, Mickayla Friend suffered severe injuries and is reported to be in critical condition.