The driver, identified by MailOnline as Robin Tandy, 74, had years of rail experience and the publication revealed the driver had only six seconds to react and apply the emergency brake before throwing his body away from the driver's side of the carriage. Two trains were involved in the crash that took place on Sunday when the Great Western and South Western Railway services crashed in Salisbury.

       Police have said that one of the drivers suffered “life-changing” injuries and 13 people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

       However, no one was killed in the crash.

       The crash involved the Great Western Railway service from Southampton to Cardiff and the South Western Railway train running from London to Honiton, Devon, British Transport Police have said.

       The incident occured as the trains entered the Fisherton Tunnel, close to London Road, at 18:46 GMT on Sunday evening.

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       MailOnline reveals Mr Tandy was airlifted to University Hospital Southampton following the crash to treat his “life-changing” injuries.

       The train driver had worked on the railway for almost 6 decades, the publication reported, and had begun his career when he was only 15 in the 1970s.

       Mr Tandy's friend, Kevin Regan, who has known him for nearly 30 years, called him a “hero”.

       “He's probably the most experienced driver on the network if not the country,” he told MailOnline.

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       “How no passengers were killed or more seriously injured is beyond me.

       “He must have only had about six seconds to react and fling the brakes into emergency.

       “The train was probably doing about 45-50mph as it was due to stop at Salisbury station nearby.

       “Bear in mind the tracks were wet as well due to the heavy rainfall on Sunday.

       “His experience and knowledge - having been a driver for so long - must have been a factor.

       “He's the hero of the hour, that's for sure, and at a personal cost to himself because he's suffered serious injuries. Quite how bad, we don't yet know.”