Milwaukee woman recovering after risking life to save mother pushed onto train tracks in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee woman risked her life to rescue her mother after she was pushed onto train tracks.

Katie Wenszell suffered devastating injuries saving her mother Sue while the two were on a vacation in Atlanta with Katie’s sisters.

Katie’s father, Jerry, says the oncoming train shattered several bones in her face, punctured a lung, damaged her shoulder and necessitated the amputation of the toes on her right foot.

“Katie basically shielded [Sue] with her body,” Jerry said. “She was caught between the track and the under carriage of the train.”

A man named Christopher Brooklin has been arrested and accused of inexplicably pushing Sue onto the tracks.

Jerry says Katie almost immediately jumped to her mother’s rescue.

“Had Katie not jumped down, Sue’s head probably would have been crushed or taken off,” he said. “Katie literally was willing to sacrifice her life.”

Jerry says Katie is recovering better than doctors could have expected, and he believes God is watching over her.

His faith has helped give him an outlook that doesn’t include wishing revenge on Brooklin.

“I started out very angry, very bitter,” Jerry said. “In the end of it all, I started literally praying for his soul.”

Sue’s only injuries came from the fall onto the tracks, and they were minor.

A Gofundme has been set up to support the Wenszells. If you’d like to donate, click here.