The fallen man who came just “inches away” from being electrocuted by the third rail was saved just in time in the Bronx last week after a tumble onto the subway tracks. The harrowing rescue that unfolded was captured on a body camera.
On May 14, bystanders at the 3 Avenue-149 Street subway station saw the man disabled and in distress. At around 5:30 pm, they flagged down help from NYPD officers of the 47th Precinct assigned to the turnstiles at the northbound platform.
Prone on his back, he was “experiencing a seizure” and “had fallen onto the subway tracks,” the department tells The Epoch Times.
One officer gained access to the subway via an emergency exit opened by a bystander; another was seen hopping the turnstile.
Despite the imminent danger of the incoming train, the department tells the newspaper, the “officers quickly jumped to the roadbed and with help from MTA security personnel and good Samaritans, safely rescued the male back to safety.”
Pedestrians at the station aided them in getting the fallen man onto the platform. One of the officers nimbly made it back up himself, but another is seen in the footage making several attempts to no avail. NYPD told us his “gun belt kept getting stuck on the edge of the platform preventing him from climbing back up.”
With the help of his partner and bystanders, he soon successfully climbed out of harm’s way.
The man who had fallen and suffered a medical emergency was taken by emergency medical services to Health + Hospitals/Lincoln and, according to police, is in stable condition.
Meanwhile, over 70,000 viewers witnessed the rescue on X. Many heaped praise on the officers involved.
Mommarad4 wrote, “Unbelievable how they put their lives on the line everyday… like its nothing.. it’s just what they do.”
Czanore wrote, “New York’s finest at their BEST!! Awesome job. Thank you.”
Others were more critical of the actions taken and motives.
“Maybe if they [were] actually standing on the platform and not outside fare control, they would’ve noticed it much sooner,” YouLocalUser wrote, placing culpability squarely on the department’s shoulders.
Unvarnished Opinion shared another viewpoint, writing, “I’m sure he’s probable [sp] dining the city claiming the police were abusive.”