This is the nerve-wracking moment two women were left stranded on a railway crossing with a train approaching when a wheel came off their car.

The red Opel was manoeuvring across the railway tracks when one of its front tyres suddenly detached, leaving the vehicle stuck in the middle of the tracks in Katowice, Poland.

CCTV footage shows the driver and passenger struggling to move the car after the wheel rolled away from the vehicle on September 25.

A white sedan behind them overtook and drove off while the pair tried to push the car clear of the railway.

Moments later, a police officer passing nearby rushed to help the visibly frustrated women.

He can be seen pushing the broken-down car off the tracks with the driver and passenger, just seconds before a train passed through the crossing.

Police said the pair escaped a potential tragedy by only a matter of seconds. They said the barriers had started lowering and red lights flashing to signal the oncoming train.

No one was injured in the incident.

Officers from Katowice Police Headquarters praised their colleague's quick response and determination, saying he demonstrated that service is not just about wearing a uniform, but about having a sense of responsibility towards others.

Authorities also reminded motorists that every railway crossing in Poland is marked with a yellow PKP PLK sticker showing the crossing number and the emergency number 112, which allows rescue services to respond more quickly in dangerous situations.