Bystander Pulls Off Daring Subway Rescue

Commuter Jumps Onto Tracks To Save Teen Who Suffered A Seizure

(CBS/AP)  A quick-thinking commuter saved a teenager who apparently suffered a seizure and fell onto subway tracks in Upper Manhattan, by jumping onto the tracks himself and pushing them both between the rails, beneath the oncoming train.

Cameron Hollopeter, 19, of Littleton, Mass., fell onto the tracks at Broadway’s 137th Street station Tuesday. Another subway passenger, 50-year-old Wesley Autrey of Manhattan, was standing on the platform with his two daughters whom he was taking home so he could go to his construction job.

When Autrey saw Hollopeter fall, he quickly took action and left his daughters to jump on the tracks to bring the man to safety as an oncoming train approached.

"I didn't want the man's body to get run over,” Autrey said. “Plus, I was with my daughters and I didn't want them to see that."

Autrey jumped down onto the tracks and initially tried to pull Hollopeter up to the platform but had to decide whether he could get him up in time to avoid both of them getting hit.

"I was trying to pull him up, but his weight [was too much] plus he was fighting against me — he didn't know who I was,” Autrey told CBS station WCBS-TV.

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Autrey spoke to co-anchor Hannah Storm on The Early Show about his heroics. To see the interview, click here.

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Autrey said the man was still moving violently from the seizure, so he pulled him into the center of the tracks — away from the high-voltage third rail — and laid on top of him. "The only thing that popped up in my mind was, 'OK, well, go for the gutter,'" Autrey said. "So I dove in, I pinned him down and once the first car ran over us, my thing with him was to keep him still."

The subway trough between the rails, which is used for drainage, is typically about 12 inches deep but can be as shallow as 8 or as deep as 24, a New York City Transit spokesman said.

The train's operator saw someone on the tracks and put the emergency brakes on. Two cars of the train passed over the men — with about 2 inches to spare, Autrey said — before it came to a stop.

Autrey's daughters thought the train had killed their father and the teen, but were relieved to hear their father shout up from under the train that the two were fine.

Hollopeter, a student at the New York Film Academy, was taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition with only minor injuries.

Hollopeter's stepmother, Rachel Hollopeter, said Autrey was "an angel."

"He was so heroic," she said early Wednesday in a telephone interview. "If he wasn't there, this would be a whole different call."

Onlooker Patricia Brown said Autrey, a Vietnam War veteran, "needs to be recognized as a hero." Others cheered him and hugged him outside the train station.

The incident took place around 12:45 p.m. Service on the line, which runs between the southern tip of Manhattan and the Bronx, was suspended for about 45 minutes.

[hermit22]

Everyone seems to agree that this man is a hero that should be rewarded...I think the city could step up and give him free subway rides for life!!
Posted by observer16 at 12:49 PM : Jan 04, 2007
+ report this comment

Ditto! "free subway rides for life!!" deserves a repost.

Wesley Autry was on Letterman show and was really quick witted and funny! I'll hazzard a guess he's been keeping God's angels busy for years! and we've never heard about those other times!

Delightful little daughters! God Bless you ALL!

[chamoon11]

Good man

[nnadilady]

Thank you Mr Autrey for giving us a real American Hero. You ay that your are not but you truly are. You went into action to save a life with no though for your own that says hero with capital letters to me. God bless and keep you and everything you hold near and dear.

[nnadilady]

Thank you Mr Autrey for giving us a real American Hero. You ay that your are not but you truly are. You went into action to save a life with no though for your own that says hero with capital letters to me. God bless and keep you and everything you hold near and dear. To Major Bloomberg when Mr Autrey went to hug you, you acted like you did not want to be touched. It should have been an honor, your honor, for such a man of Mr Autrey caliber to embrace you!!!! I am not asking you to kiss him but the next time you see him act like you're happy to see him okay.

[nnadilady]

Thank you Mr Autrey for giving us a real American Hero. You ay that your are not but you truly are. You went into action to save a life with no though for your own that says hero with capital letters to me. God bless and keep you and everything you hold near and dear. To Major Bloomberg when Mr Autrey went to hug you, you acted like you did not want to be touched. It should have been an honor, your honor, for such a man of Mr Autrey caliber to embrace you!!!! I am not asking you to kiss him but the next time you see him act like you're happy to see him okay.

[nnadilady]

Thank you Mr Autrey for giving us a real American Hero. You ay that your are not but you truly are. You went into action to save a life with no though for your own that says hero with capital letters to me. God bless and keep you and everything you hold near and dear. To Major Bloomberg when Mr Autrey went to hug you, you acted like you did not want to be touched. It should have been an honor, your honor, for such a man of Mr Autrey caliber to embrace you!!!! I am not asking you to kiss him but the next time you see him act like you're happy to see him okay.

[shellback7]

True Hero and true to the Sailors Creed... "Honor, Courage and Commitment.
I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all." God Bless!
Love, Respect and Salutations,
Shellback

[blanca91]

Finally, I true hero. Welsley, I am tired of telling my children that Superman does not exist, now he does and it is you.
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for giving us some needed hope. This world, our president, should all learn from you and change their ways.
Congratulations on all your new found fame, and I hope that stays with you forever, because you deserve it. I hope the best for your family. I hope you get to fly to see Bush and show him how to love people. And show him that we are tired of people dying , we want ALL people to live , do things for others, love each other and be happy. We want a future where there is a place for all of us, even him.

[channel88]

Wow, what a story. A true American hero amongst us. All the best to you and your family Mr. Autrey. You have inspired a nation.

[durcar]

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Mr Autrey, you committed an extroidinary act of GENUINE LOVE, you are a fine example of the way the entire world should be. No compensation will be greater than what God will give, but I pray that putting your oun life at stake for another's will not go unrewarded and that you and your family be ultimately blessed beyond measure. MAY YOUR CUP RUN OVER, God Be With You Always!

[audbaby]

Mr. Autrey, your compassionate act was nothing short of inspiring. Many of us wish we could do what you did for someone we know, let alone someone you did not even know.

I thank God that there are people like you in this world.

God bless you.

[tibu987]

Thank you Mr. Autry, not only for heroic act but for being the kind of person that personifies all the good things in this country. You made a quick decision to save another person and that says a lot about you. Your daughters will be proud to know this story as they grow up.
You are quite some guy and I too am proud for you.

[rmbtmil]

To IM'an idiot'Liberteria:

Why do you have to throw in your stupid political opinions on such a tremedous story. This man did a wonderful thing. Don't taint it just so you can get a jab in at President Bush.

Mr. Autrey, you were already a hero when you served your country in Vietnam, and you proved you still are one. This world would be a better place with more people like you in it. Thank you

[observer16]

Everyone seems to agree that this man is a hero that should be rewarded...I think the city could step up and give him free subway rides for life!!

[annamarie8]

I want to say thanks to a remarkable man. He makes you proud he is an American and a great person. Thank you and may you and your family have happiness and health.

[imlibertaria]

SorryI I'll correct My slip: The re-construction of IraQ. My apologies

[imlibertaria]

Now, this is the kind of man that should be awarded the Medal of Freedom. NOT the jokers who screwed up the re-construcdtion on Iran or any of King Bush 2's other buddies.

[Frisky1989]

Sir,
I commend you. What a selfless act.
There needs to be a whole lot more people
like you in this world.

[boston1954]

THIS is a HERO!!!!! He should be decorated!!! I cried when I saw this story.

[consu14]

Now that's a real hero.