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The story about Wesley Autrey jumping into the subway tracks yesterday afternoon to save a fellow straphanger at the 137th Street downtown 1 platform gets more amazing. It turns out that Autrey and two other women had helped 20 year old Cameron Hollopeter right before the fall - Hollopeter had a seizure and Autrey used a pen to keep his mouth open. They called for a station agent's help, but Hollopeter got up and stumbled into the tracks before help came.
Here's how Autrey, a Harlem construction worker who was on his way to drop off his two young daughters to be with their mother in Times Square, reacted, as mentioned in various interviews in amNew York, Post, Daily News, 1010WINS, WABC 7 and NY Times:
I had a split-second decision to make. Do I let the train run him over and hear my daughters screaming and see the blood? Or do I jump in?The 1 train operator stopped the train when he saw someone the tracks. The men were trapped under a car (the Daily News says the second, the Times says fifth), and Hollopeter reportedly said to Autrey, "Am I dead? Am I dead?" Autrey told him, "No, we're under the train. 'You're touching me. You feel me touching you? We're very much alive."...He landed between the track. Do I let the train run over this guy? I saw the ladies had my two daughters, so I hopped over on the tracks...
...I saw the two white lights and said "'Whoa, you ain't got no time.' I just grabbed him. I just dove on top of him and held him down because I knew there would be enough clearance for us...
...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...
...He was fighting and pushing against me, so I laid on top of him. The train was probably 2 inches off my back...
Autrey's daughers were upset and screaming, so he yelled to the crowd on the platform, "Weíre O.K. down here, but Iíve got two daughters up there. Let them know their fatherís O.K.î
Hollopeter, a student at the NY Film Academy, had bumps and bruises and was treated at St. Luke's-Roosevelt. His grandfather Jeff Friedman said about Autry, "I'd like to buy him a drink. Maybe 100 drinks. All I can say on behalf of the entire family is thanks so much."
Autrey, who served in the Vietnam War, refused medical attention, just said, "I think I did the right thing. And it ain't about being a hero, it's just being able to be here and help the next person."
And what did the MTA's NYC Transit Authority think of this? Spokesman Charles Seaton told AMNY, "We are extremely grateful for the outcome of this incident. However, this is a reminder that customers should stand well back from the edge of the platform." True, but the guy just had a seizure!
Photographs of Autrey (check out how dirty his cap is from the tracks!) and his daughters, 6 year old Shuqui and 4 year old Syshe, by Juliet Papa of 1010WINS; graphic of the subway tracks from the Daily News
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Wesley Autry is an amazing man. Thank God for people like him. I only hope that his daughters are not traumatized by watching their father jump in front of a train and not knowing whether he was alive or dead for a few minutes-- that must have been terrifying for them to endure.
This guy should get a medal or something. I mean, that takes some real balls.
is it me, or are more people having seizures these days? between skinny broads fainitng and holding up the trains, to cabbies blacking out and crashing into stuff, and now film students seizing on the platform. what's going on? is it related to that syrup-smell thing?
This story is making me cry. What a brave man.
Something the Transit Authority doesn't want you to know:
If you go onto the catwalk a short distance off either end of the platform you'll see a blue light and a yellow box. In most stations, at least. Inside the box there's a switch that cuts off third-rail power on the tracks in the area. There also should be a telephone connected to the nearest tower. If you flip the switch be sure to pick up the phone, and if I'm not mistaken the tower operator will answer; tell him or her what's happened, so the power isn't turned back on right away.
Obviously this is for use only in dire emergencies, namely someone on the tracks.
Jimmy, it's the ol' "Dog bites man" vs "Man bites dog". If it happened that often, you wouldn't hear about it.
I took a subway track safety course some years back while I was working on a film shooting underground. Here is what stuff means: Blue light - this is where there is a telephone. Red & white stripes - no clearance, you will die. There are ladders from the track to the platform at both ends of the platform. In addition, the recessed areas, and the supports between the tracks are places where you can "hold up" or shelter...make sure you touch the wall, so you make sure you don't lean too far forward or back when the trains pass... and of course, don't touch the third rail.
This man is a true hero.
This story is making me cry too. Mr. Autrey is a hero, and one of the bravest people I've ever heard of. What a wonderful story to start the new year.
This man is a hero.
Just as an FYI though, when someone has a seizure, nothing should be put in their mouth. Pen or anything.
I would say one of the few ppl left in this world who would risk thier life to save someone. Rail authority should honour Mr. Autrey or give his a gift which would make him remember all his life about his bravery. Great job Mr. Autrey
Wesley Autry's action defines the very essence of the words bravery and courage. It is not the lack of fear but the ability to act in spite of it.
AMAZING STORY. A TRUE HERO.
What's interesting here is not one news account I have read of all those listed on the web mentions the hero is black, but whenever someone black does something antisocial That they are black gets reported extensively.
Also the person saved froo the tracks at 137th street in harlem was having an epileptic seizure which most always appears as though the person is in an uncontrollable drug induced state.
Would you leave your 2 beautiful daughters on a platform with a female stranger jumping on the tracks in front of an oncoming train to save this kid if he were black?
And I really am being very optimistic here!
Autrey has actually done what people of faith pray for the strength to do. As Saint Francis of Assisi wrote "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words." Amen, Brother.
Talk about grace under pressure!
Mr. Autrey, you made my day!!!
God bless you and the rest of your family!
I agree that the city or at least the rail authority should honour him. For the sake of being a human being
"Cowards die a thousand deaths, the brave just once."
You have got to wonder what drives a man to take an action like that, to risk life and limb to save another, to look death straight in the eye and not blink. Hero? You better believe it!
Funny how the MTA guy tries to skirt the line between condoning jumping to the tracks to save someone, and not saying anything that would dishonor, discourage or go against what Autrey did.
I agree, this story nearly makes me cry, and I don't cry very often.
Hollopeter... that's a funny name.
This dude Autrey should be in Die Hard 4! Amazing.
In addition, the recessed areas, and the supports between the tracks are places where you can "hold up" or shelter
It may be mostly an urban legend, but supposedly the wall niches - built decades ago when people were smaller - are too shallow to protect the average person of today.
More than just bravery, Autrey demonstrated incredible presence of mind. Even if many of us could put ourselves into that situation, it's probable we would not have done what was necessary to survive, either panicking or choking.
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Holopeter and family were pondering buying him a drink..? Get the guy a first class vaction in Maui ....Jayzusss
what if he hadn't saved the guy? Would he have gotten sued if he tried and failed (provided he somehow survived)?
The Daily News graphic says 4"1'; so I assume that's a typo and there is 4'1" of space in height there? But how deep is it?
If someone is on the tracks and they can move and they have enough time, they should go to the end of the platform where there is a ladder to climb up, right?
I don't think Mr Autrey's daughters will be traumatized..I think they'll look at their father with new eyes, as someone who's just taught them, and all of us, that any of us can be a hero, and make a differance.
And, maybe, in this day and age, the woman who kept hold of his daughters, making sure they didn't run off (or get run off with), is a hero too. I imagine she didn't let them look when thier dad was under that train, until she knew he was ok. I think that anyone with her presence of mind would have turned them somehow.
Yeah, when someone who is black commits a crime, he or she is black. When they do something heroic, their race isn't mentioned. You got a point there.
The Daily News graphic says 4"1'; so I assume that's a typo and there is 4'1" of space in height there? But how deep is it?
If someone is on the tracks and they can move and they have enough time, they should go to the end of the platform where there is a ladder to climb up, right?
It is 4'1" from the trackbed to the platform. That may not seem like a huge distance, but it's enough to make climbing up onto the platform very, very difficult.
I'm not sure how wide the hollow space under the platform edge is, though it's definitely not as wide as the illustration seems to indicate. What matters is that it does not provide adequate survival space.
As far as the ladders at the ends of the platforms are concerned, keep in mind that platforms are 600 feet long. Your chances of outrunning an approaching train and getting to the nearest ladder in time are pretty slim.
Note that the 4'1" measurement is not the most pertinent here as the two were under the train, on top of each other, between the two rails in the 21" clearance space. Amazing!
My respects to him! I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done it...
I hope he get's something for this (scholarship for his kids would be nice... or a life-time metrocard [kidding])
Wow, a bunch of Gothamist posts that arent actually ripping on a black guy..so basically a black guy has to risk his life to save a white guy to get props from the avg. Gothamist reader...I am sure that tomorrow Jen will let the dogs out again in order to prove her white bonafides, offer some black/latino guy for you to rip on and you guys will go back to normal.
I will just savor this for today. My hats off to that guy-I really cant imagine having the presence of mind or the guts to do that.
I'll bite: What Gothamist Posts are "actually ripping on a black guy"?
Hate to burst your bubble, but Gothamist doesn't target "black guys".
How bout ten sean bell stories in a day? It got so bad even the racist got tired of posting due to finger cramps. or, the Falls or Ms. Moore, the white one not the black one.
Gothamist may not "target" blacks but it provided a fuse, all that's needed was a match.
And, there were plenty of igniters. Just look at the most commented stats.
This city is racist to it's Apple core.
can someone start a fund for Mr. Wesley Autrey ans his daughters?
damn i would donate, this man deserves some security.
The transit authority should give this hero a free Metro card for life. or a year. Or something.
Not many would have jumped down there, and even fewer would have kept cool enough to see the solution to the problem in time. Awesome!
This guy had obviously been down in the tunnels before. One news story credited his coonstruction worker background in giving him some idea of what to do.
His military training and experience as a Viet Nam vet also probably gave him some tools on how to act fast under pressure.
But no amount of preparation, comfort with a familiar situation or simple information (seeing the red stripes and knowing that there was enough clearance), can account for the grace under fire... to actually get done what he figured could be done without blunders or missteps, with the his own and another man's life in the balance, and his daughters watching no less! Wow!
And also credit New York to reward him so fast(or jump at the photo op!) At least he's making out: $10k from Trump, medal from the city, free subway passes, trip to Disney, scholarship fund for his kids and backstage passes to Lion King... Way to Go!
I can't seem to get enough of this story. HERO is all I can say. He deserve all the honor, recognition and grace given to him. This is one story I will never forget!!!
He's a hero
God Bless You
Love from Canada
MR. AUTREY IS MORE THAN JUST A "HERO". HE'S BEYOND THAT, WITH COMPASSION TO SAVE ANOTHER LIFE, WETHER IT'S BLACK, WHITE, YELLOW, BROWN, RED, ETC. HE'S HEAVEN SENT....SUPER ANGEL WITH A HEART FOR SAVIOR. I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU MR. AUTRY, YOU ARE MORE THAN A "ONE IN A MILLION", YOU THE "MAN"
This man clearly is an old soul. I saw him on Letterman and he was impressive. Yes, an incredible hero, but he also knew what he could do. Forget the 100 drinks. Pony up and offer this guy's kids a free ride to any SUNY school (although I have the feeling he might not want this). This is the kind of person you jut want to be around--and give him a hug.
"Wow, a bunch of Gothamist posts that arent actually ripping on a black guy..so basically a black guy has to risk his life to save a white guy to get props from the avg. Gothamist reader...I am sure that tomorrow Jen will let the dogs out again in order to prove her white bonafides, offer some black/latino guy for you to rip on and you guys will go back to normal.
I will just savor this for today. My hats off to that guy-I really cant imagine having the presence of mind or the guts to do that."
Hey, angry, you are right, sort of. I live in DC and the media reports when a black man is reputed to be the guilty party in a crime. But I wouldn't say it's "ripping." It's just reporting. And when you are trying to apprehend someone you need to know what they look like, and color is important--obviously. However, it could be considered unnecessary and possibly racist to say "a white man saved the life of a..." or "a black man saved the life of a..." because unlike in a crime the ID of a person is not essential to the case/story. Anyway, as a white man (gratuitous, unnecessary reference)I admire immensely what Mr. Autry did. He is a true hero who has helped to renew my faith in humankind. I am glad though that he is a black man because so often blacks get a bad rap. Thank you Mr. Autrey for your heroic act. You are a special person.
I think he is the only person that truly deserves an Extreme Home makeover. But wait, most likely he does not own a home, so guess, no home makeover for the hero.
Just going over the comments again after the president's State of the Union address, Tuesday, january 24, 2007 at which Mr. Wesley Autrey was fittingly acknowledged and applauded by the senate, house and gallery.
Yes, we are blessed as a nation to have such human beings as he. His color has not, and should not be a factor to ponder when considering his heroism. That we are slowly moving in the direction of "color blindness" is encouraging. I hope Mr. Autrey and his daughters do benefit from the publicity. and I hope and trust that more United Statesians will look into their souls for this kind of bravery. I know I will.
Dear Mr. Wesley Autrey,
I am just waching your interviw in German ZDF TV
in Germany.Your story makes me cry.you know my brother has Epilepsy, yesterday evening had an epileptic seizure and called me after that to tell me what happen and you don't even bleave my Husband did'nt even tels me the message.In Germany my brother had been told to leave the country even if he has a poletikal problem in his country.the German court said,if you take medican you wan't get the seizure.Any why schould I tells you that all. You are a greatmann. I respekt you for your love and respect for the Humenbing.I pray every day for my brother when ever he would get the seizure some body who will hlp him as you did.I love you.But Jesus loves you more.he did it in deed.Amen
From Germany
Thank you all for your wonderful compliments of my broher. Our
family is delighted to share Wesley with the rest of the world.
Wesley's e-mail address is wesleyautreysr@yahoo.com. You can
also reach him at HAMILTON GRANGE STATION P.O. Box 181
NEW YORK, NY 10031