Father credited with amazing 'subway save'

 

Tried to pull man off tracks; train rolled over them both

 

Eyewitness News

(Manhattanville - WABC, January 2, 2007) - A Good Samaritan leaped into action and saved a man who had a seizure and collapsed onto subway tracks Tuesday afternoon.

 

Eyewitness News reporter Carolina Tarazona spoke with the hero. She has the story from the 138th Street station in Manhattanville.

 

Fifty-year-old Wesley Autrey saved a man's life today.

 

The Vietnam vet says he just followed his gut, but it was more than that. "I just did my best," Autrey said. "Military training, instinct, that's all."

 

Authorities say the victim, 18-year-old Cameron Hollowpeter, suffered a seizure and collapsed onto the southbound No. 1 line near Broadway and West 137th Street just before 1 p.m.

 

They say Autrey was waiting for a subway train with his two daughters and attempted to save Hollowpeter.

 

"I just went in after the guy," he said. "I tried to pull him up, but I had to make a split-[second] decision whether or not to struggle, maybe end up getting us both killed. So I just chose to dive on top of him and pin him down and pin myself down."

 

Autrey reportedly leaped into the trench to get Hollowpeter off the tracks. Officials say when he was unable to get him off the tracks in time, the hero covered the victim with his body in the gutter between two tracks, and a subway train rolled over them both.

 

"This train is coming," he said. "I was trying to pull him up, but his weight, he was fighting against me. He didn't know who I was. The only thing that popped into my mind was go into the gutter. So I dove in, I pinned him down, once the first car ran over us, then my thing was keep him still."

 

Both men miraculously sustained only minor injuries.

 

Police say Hollowpeter was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, while the underground hero was treated at the scene.

 

Autrey said he shouldn't be considered a hero, he was simply putting his military training to use.

 

"I think I did the right thing," he said. "And it ain't about being a hero, it's just being able to be here and help the next person."

 

Subway service was briefly delayed on southbound No. 1 express trains between 145th Street and 96th Street, but normal service has resumed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=...&id=4899364

:notworthy

:thumbup

The sad part is, it could get really hard for him to get back to normal life. We could be reading something bad about him soon. People like that have a hard time coming back to reality from their hero status.

The sad part is, it could get really hard for him to get back to normal life. We could be reading something bad about him soon. People like that have a hard time coming back to reality from their hero status.

Wow, talk about a jump and a needless comment.

The sad part is, it could get really hard for him to get back to normal life. We could be reading something bad about him soon. People like that have a hard time coming back to reality from their hero status.

 

This guy's a vietnam vet. It's unlikely that this subway incident will alter his life any more than the things he saw out there.

The sad part is, it could get really hard for him to get back to normal life. We could be reading something bad about him soon. People like that have a hard time coming back to reality from their hero status.

Wow, talk about a jump and a needless comment.

Yeah really, this happened in January. I wonder if he went home after that and made himself a cape and a mask and started 'saving' everyone.

Actually I remember this guy now. I think Trump gave him a bunch of cash as a 'reward'.

 

Why is this getting posted now?

Actually I remember this guy now. I think Trump gave him a bunch of cash as a 'reward'.

 

Why is this getting posted now?

Bradcore said he knows it is old but still a good story.

I'm not trying to take a shot at the guy, and I think he is an enormous and unquestionable hero.

 

But I'm just pointing out the sad reality of what happens a lot of times when people commit heroic acts, get all this media spotlight and fame they never asked for, and then it all goes away. It's really hard to get back to normal life. Your day to day actions become marginalized. I'm not blaming them, just pointing out that it happens. I think it's a documented psychological phenomenon.

 

Read about the baby jessica rescue and the people that were involved in that. One killed himself and the other had major problems. Both attributed it to the dropoff in excitment in their life.