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The Houdini-style stunt took place Switzeralnd, after an accomplice had packed the young man into the suitcase and carried him onto a train heading leaving Milan. The attempt to by-pass document checks was foiled when concerned rail passengers heard strange noises coming from the suitcase and alerted a guard. The authorities had in fact already been warned by their Italian counterparts the two migrants were attempting an audacious bid to travel through Europe.

Officials seized the bag, dragged it off the train and watched open-mouthed as the migrant unpacked himself from his cramped hiding place.

IG The man was discovered hidden packed into a suitcase on a Swiss train

The stunning video shows a hand emerge from within the bag, before the man slowly manages to undo the zip. With a little help from one of the guards, the man emerge from the claustrophobic confines of the suitcase. His friend was found hiding in one of the train’s toilets.

IG The man unpacked himself when he was discovered by guards

A police source said: “We received a call from Italian colleagues that two Eritreans were attempting to get into the country and travel northwards across Europe to Britain. “The information was that one man was hidden in a suitcase and another man was travelling with him. The suitcase was pointed out to us and the man found inside.

IG The man squeezed himself into the tiny suitcase in an attempt to reach the UK

“He was in his 20s and we found his friend hiding in a toilet on the train.” Officials said neither men had travel or identification documents with them. Both were sent back to Italy.

IG He eventually got out of the suitcase with the help of an official