I was getting off a train one night, quite late. I was the only person in my carriage. I had quite a heavy rucksack on my back.
The train stopped, with me waiting anxiously by the door because I was (and always am) really paranoid about not getting off in time. Except the door did not open.
I looked all around for a button to press to make the door open. There was no button.
I managed to get my panic under control and tried to work out what was happening. Right, I thought, it must be an old-fashioned kind of train where you have to pull up the handle on the outside of the door by putting your hand out the window.
Ok. Window. Window. Sash window kind of affair. Pull it down. Wont budge. (I found out later you have to squeeze the metal bit at the top together to get it to open) Pull it down a bit harder. It budged, but only a bit. I managed to wriggle it down by pure brute force and hysteria to about the halfway position. I thought maybe it would be enough as I am quite tall so I start waggling my hand out of the window to grab the door handle.
I cannot reach the handle. Reaaaaaach wagglewagglewaggle. No handle. Streeeeeeeeetch, wimper in panic, wagglewaggle... fingers brush the handle.
Shit shit shit the trains going to go any second now. Right, ok. There's a sort of very slight ledge/projection a few centimeters up the door that will give me the extra leverage I need. I manage to get my tiptoes onto this sticky out bit at the bottom of the door, and make a wild, last-chance grab for the door handle
I got it. I yanked the handle and the door opens. Except that I now find myself in position of standing on a rapidly-opening door, with one arm through a half open window, clinging onto the door handle. The combined weight of me and my massive backpack really makes the door fly open, and out I go with it. At one with the door.
The train door and I describe a perfect arc through the air until the door slams, with not inconsiderable force, into the side of the train. With my arm acting as a cushion.
I slid down the door and onto the platform and stagger off to the taxis. I heard a lot of muffled laughter. A few broken fingers, and a bruised pride. It must have lookd hilarious though.