Subway Hero Meets His D-Train Damsel In Distress

Who doesn't love a good subway hero story? The two real-life leading roles this time around are played by 18-year-old Rosie Rittenbery and 23-year-old Lance McGraw. Though the two had never seen each other before, even though they're practically neighbors, he saved her life last Thursday morning.

MyFoxNY reports that they were both standing on a subway platform when a Manhattan-bound D train was approaching and Rittenbery passed out onto the tracks. She recalls, "I looked at my friend and she said, 'Rosie you look really white,' and that's the last thing I remember. I had no memory of that, then I just somersaulted over and landed on my back on the tracks." Apparently her friend, nor anyone else on the platform, made a move to save her—and McGraw says, "I just thought, I have to do this before the train comes. I didn't realize how close the train was and it didn't occur to me that I had put myself in so much danger."

Fellow straphangers gasped when McGraw jumped down to pick up her limp body. He got her, and himself out of harm's way just in time, and the EMTs arrived to take it from there. One medic says, "He was fantastic, he saved her life." We sort of hope this dangerous meet-cute sparks a romance!

UPDATE: The subway hero's roommate has informed us that Fox got it wrong, it was the 8th Ave N train station that was the stage for this heroic scene. Also, he crushed our hearts by letting us know there is no romance, Ms. Rittenbery already has a boyfriend.

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

By Jen Carlson in News on February 16, 2010 12:50 PM

Comments [rss]

TheKlaus

I have unsubscribed twice and still get email notifications. Make it stop Gothamist. It's a dumb feature anyway.

Love you

JLRodP

Why is this about race???? Good for the black man! Always keep your chin up, buddy.

Anyway, certain white people are too stuck up, like nothing surrounds them. Asian people have a bad habit of adopting such a behavior... yuck.

elpollodiablo

When I say SUBWAY you say HERO; SUBWAY!

dgeee

FOOT LONG!

S.K.

So whati f the damsel has a boyfriend? it's not she's married to him. I say, go for her.

As for the white straphangers- most of them could not have saved this damsel, because they're busy checking their Blackberries, texting, and listening to loud iPods. Oblivious to the people they're standing or sitting next to.

TheKlaus

OK I figured it out. But why I all of a sudden started receiving reply notifications is beyond me.

Love you

TheKlaus

WHY ARE THESE REPLIES ALL OF A SUDDEN SHOWING UP IN MY INBOX! MAKE IT STOP GOTHAMIST!!!!!!!!

Guest

this makes me smile. :)

wobbleSmith

i saw this on the news last night. he seems like a really stand up guy. good on you, pal.

she seemed like a heroin waif...

potsmoker

modern etiquette still applies, a hand written thank you note and BJ is required in this situation...

not one of those lick the shaft, put the head in the mouth for a for seconds & let me finish with my hands BJ's,

but full on nut suckin, butt licking, finished off with her finger in his azz and full load swallow, a little drip on the lip is OK, but you owe the guy a complete bjob....

Stephenson Billings

I'm sorry but I really don't understand what you just said. My comment was in reference to the fact that most people stood by and did nothing as this woman overdosed and fell on the tracks. Your reply is not just obscene, it's irrelevant.

wobbleSmith

i don't think it was a direct reply to you, Master Billings. but if it's any consolation, the comments belonging to you and potsmoker set the reds and the violets of the vaccous prism known as "gothamist commenting"

(the reds are despair for the human race; the violets are dick jokes)

niloo

I'd rather be a violet than a red, but dick jokes are overrated.

Stephenson Billings

It's rather sad that most New Yorkers have neither the interest nor the time to save other people's lives. I don't find this story inspiring at all, just pathetic.

FJF

Rosie still looks really white.

Rocknrope

Yes, will Rosie spread her damsely legs for our hero?

buffmancandy

if you are not standing right next to the edge you won't fall on the tracks when you pass out. It doesn't make the train come any faster and people won't have to put themselves in danger to save you.

JacqueMehoff

Well Done Mr. McGraw. Well done.

Yes, you're a hero.

aren't there any WHITE subway heroes???

now watch someone reply with some conspiracy liberal media crack. notice, this was Fox NY.