Where is Her Subway Rescuer

It's always nice to hear a Good Samaritan story: A woman who was pushed off the N/R tracks at 59th Street by a homeless person was rescued by another man waiting while 20 other people simply stood there watching. Leah Bianco, a designer for Tommy Hilfiger, was on her way to the gym at 7:15AM on February 9th. Describing the incident to the Daily News, she says the homeless man brushed past her forefully, "I lost my footing. I tried to grab one of the beams and I was too far away. So I actually grabbed onto him and said, 'Please, don't let me fall.'" But he didn't help her and she fell into the tracks: "I tried to pull myself up, but the wall was up to my neck - so I started screaming, begging for someone to help me." Finally, someone stepped out, "He leaned down and gave me his hand, and I catapulted myself out. A train came a few seconds after." And the first thing the man said was, "I can't believe no one else helped!" Then the man disappeared after finding a transit worker to report the incident. Of course, Bianco would like to find him and thank him herself.

It's crazy that none of the others tried to help. Gothamist would like to think if we were watching something like this unfold, we'd try to lend a hand.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 26, 2004 10:47 AM

Comments [rss]

Bleh?

If hitting people with cars is 10 points, I wonder how many points the rail car operator shoots for.

jen h.

Subway push-victim reunited with her hero!

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/168480p-147171c.html

(the main page of the website has a better photo of the two of them)

Third Rail

candleblue--

The third rail is the one that's furthest away from the platform edge. It usually has a protective wooden "rail" that runs about six inches directly above it.

Look at this pic:

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?24738

Look at the empty tracks on the lower right.

From the right, you can count rail one, rail two, and then a third rail that's in the shadow of the protective wooden "rail" that's bolted on top of it.

tien

"the choice is yours!"

"you can get with this, you can get with that..."

"engine, engine number nine, on the new york transit line, if my train falls off the track, pick it up pick it up pick it up!!"

sorry, i couldn't resist.

candleblue

While You Were Sleeping was set in Chicago, where people are famous for pulling the emergency brake when they realize that they missed their stop, then forcing the train doors open and running along the track back to the station in question.

U-nanimous

DON'T GO INTO THE CRAWL SPACE (he shouted).

And where did I learn that? Why, Gothamist of course. Read the first comment here for an explanation:

http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/02/11/woman_killed_by_subway.php

jenny

I always figured you could roll into that crawl space under the platform like Sandra Bullock did in While You Were Sleeping. can I do that? hmmm...wonder if they have one of those extreme survival books that answers this question.

candleblue

Apparently you're supposed to lie flat on the tracks such that the train will pass over you. Yes, being thin and small helps a lot.

Also, avoid the third rail. I have no idea where this is, could someone please enlighten me. This has been a burning question of mine for quite a while.

G

If one were to find themselves down on the subway tracks for one reason or another, what's the best strategy for avoiding death or injuring (assuming pulling oneself out of the tracks onto the platform isn't an option?)? Anyone know?

candleblue

Maybe those 20 people were scared of getting electrocuted. Or of getting pushed onto the tracks by the aforementioned homeless guy. But they are still going to hell anyway.

larry dvm

What have I wrought?

larry dvm FOREVER!

Who wouldn't help?!

apparently about 20 wouldn't help. some reading comprehension might help *you* however.

maybe

just pretend I posted this fifteen times

i am so full of rage

David

Sometime I really hate people. Who wouldn't help?!

PK

With all the aggression floating around, not surprising to hear of people not helping. And also of pushing others onto the tracks!

Bucking the trend (helping people in an unhelpful environment) isn't easy. But I do believe "what goes around comes around."

The choice is yours!

kh

This happened a few weeks ago at the 59th St. A/C tracks to another woman, except that she was apparently drugged up and fell in. My boyfriend was there and tried to pull her up, but she was too out of it to understand what was going on, and another guy jumped down there and lifted her up to my boyfriend. This chick didn't give a shit that the guy jumped down there for her though, and just muttered something to the cops about being on eye medication as the train came hurtling into the station.

tim

>larry dvm Feb 26, 2004 11:15 AM

>Who wouldn't help? The alternative is watching someone >get crushed by a train. I'd do just about anything to avoid >that horrible sight.

apparently about 20 wouldn't help. some reading comprehension might help *you* however.

maybe

Yeah, um like it would help YOU if you only hit the post button ONCE.

marcus

I am not surprised by the fact that nobody would help her off the tracks. Typical New Yorkers.

Its like Carrie says on Sex and the City "Oh your SO busy"

marcus

I am not surprised by the fact that nobody would help her off the tracks. Typical New Yorkers.

Its like Carrie says on Sex and the City "Oh your SO busy"

statingtheobv

>larry dvm Feb 26, 2004 11:15 AM

>Who wouldn't help? The alternative is watching someone >get crushed by a train. I'd do just about anything to avoid >that horrible sight.

apparently about 20 wouldn't help. some reading comprehension might help *you* however.

maybe

statingtheobv

>larry dvm Feb 26, 2004 11:15 AM

>Who wouldn't help? The alternative is watching someone >get crushed by a train. I'd do just about anything to avoid >that horrible sight.

apparently about 20 wouldn't help. some reading comprehension might help *you* however.

maybe

Mike

Absolutely.

I was actually quite surprised, the first time I was down on the tracks, how far up the platform is above the tracks. It's gotta be five feet or so -- not a distance most people can pull themselves up.