A young woman who complained to TTC security about being manhandled towards the brink of a subway platform was credited yesterday with a tip-off that led to her accused attacker's arrest.

The 22-year-old escaped a man's clutches around 6:10 p.m. Christmas Eve as her feet came close to the yellow warning line in the St. Andrew Station, 52 Division Det. Chris Trites said.

Her tip off resulted in TTC security arresting a man on a southbound train after a second woman also fled his clutches.

The accused passenger-pusher is known to Toronto Police, but no details were available. In an interview yesterday, Trites said investigators are still hoping to hear from the second woman, who was shoved on the same platform seconds after the first victim wrestled free.

With a train quickly approaching, her narrow escape from serious injury or death occurred "instantly" after the first victim escaped the attacker, he said.

Trites told the Sun the first assault occurred "close to the yellow line ... literally on the edge of the platform."

"I don't know what was on his mind," he said.

After he met with TTC security and a member of the Toronto Police subway patrol team, Trites said there were no reports of other recent incidents at the station below University Ave. and King St. W., or elsewhere on the system.

Security recordings from cameras mounted near the platform were studied for clues to the second victim's identity.

"Obviously we and the TTC have to be aware of these incidents, or something tragic could have happened," Trites said, crediting the arrest to the first woman's quick actions in alerting security.

Sean Duck, 29, of Toronto, was charged with one count of aggravated assault.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Trites at 416-808-5204 or, anonymously Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at 222tips.com.

IAN.ROBERTSON@SUNMEDIA.CA