The student accused of not paying his rail fare who was filmed being manhandled off a train by a fellow passenger has hit back, insisting to Sky News that he did have a ticket.
Sam Main, 19, from Falkirk, became an unwitting internet hit when the video of him being thrown off a ScotRail train was posted on YouTube.
The footage shows the student arguing with a conductor before another passenger intervenes to remove him. Its now had almost 1m views on the website
Mr Main, who is studying surveying at Heriot-Watt University, was grabbed by a man identified in reports as Alan Pollock & forced out.
In the video, the student is seen trying to get back on to the train & complaining that his belongings are still on board as Mr Pollock is applauded by other passengers.
It has now emerged that Mr Main's family may take legal action against Mr Pollock after the teenager was injured in the tussle.Mr Main insists he did buy a ticket for the journey on the Edinburgh to Perth service on December 9.
He says he was sold two singles in the same direction by mistake after buying separate tickets to save money.
Mr Main told Sky News: "I realised when I was on the train going to Edinburgh that both tickets said Polmont to Edinburgh Park.
"On my way home, I tried to explain to the train conductor but he wasn't willing to listen. There was no progression - it wasn't an argument. It just completely erupted & then I felt myself getting thrown off the train."
The student, who is diabetic, admits he swore at the conductor when he was told to get off the train but says there was no need for the passenger to intervene.
"I can't understand why a grown man would attack a young boy from behind & assault him & throw him off a train," he said.
"If he had tapped me on the shoulder & turned round & said 'would you please leave the train' I'd have seen he was such a big man & wouldn't have been messing with him. I'd have got off the train."
Describing the tussle, he added: "He lifted me out of my seat, I instantly felt myself go on the ground. The man landed on top of me. I think I hit my head on the way down because I was concussed.
"I opened my eyes and I was looking at the ground and I had hit my face on the ground of the platform. I stood up and realised I didn't have my bag on so I tried to get back on the train and again he just chucked me back down on the ground.
"I wasn't going to approach the police until after my last exam and even then I would have thought about it but instead the police came to me. I've spoken to them and given a statement."
The student added: "I could have handled it a lot better but it happened the way it did... I should have been given more time to explain myself."
Before the video became popular on the web, Mr Main appeared more amused by it - writing on Facebook on Sunday: "There's a video of me on youtube hahahahaha! Scotrail no ticket ;)"
His father Lenny has told reporters he wants Mr Pollock to be charged over the incident.
"This big guy has basically thrown him head-first on to the platform. Sam's landed on his face and has a big graze," he said, according to the Daily Record.
"He's tried to get back in the carriage to get his bag. He's diabetic and all his things were in that bag - his medication, his university notes, his money, his mobile phone & his iPod but he's been thrown off again.
"This man has to be charged & have his day in court. He'd no right to do what he did. If I was him, I'd expect to be charged"
British Transport Police have refused to discuss the case but a spokesman said: "A complaint has been received & inquiries are ongoing into the incident"
ScotRail has also said it is investigating & warned against passengers becoming involved in altercations between other travellers & its staff.
"While we welcome the public's support of our zero-tolerance stance on anti-social behaviour, our staff are trained in conflict management and we do not expect members of the public to take matters into their own hands,"