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Three men wasted no time jumping onto the subway tracks to save a man who fell off the platform in the early morning hours Sunday, barely missing the next train rolling into the station.
The incident happened at about 2:40 a.m. Sunday at Columbus Circle, when a man in his twenties hit his head and stumbled onto the tracks at the 1 train platform. The next train was supposed to arrive in two minutes when 22-year-old Garrett O'Hanlon jumped onto the tracks.
"I looked over and saw him down there, and everyone started to scream," the Air Force cadet from Dallas, Texas, told NBC 4 New York Monday. "After that, it was almost like a blur, it happened so quickly."
Seeing O'Hanlon struggle with the unconscious and bleeding man, 23-year-old Dennis Codrington jumped in, along with his friend from Poughkeepsie, 23-year-old Matt Foley. The three worked quickly as the train approached.
"He had to be 220 to 240, he was a very heavy man," said O'Hanlon. "I couldn't lift him by myself."
Codrington, a personal trainer at Equinox who lives in Washington Heights, told NBC 4 New York, "It was really surreal. I can't tell you what I was thinking when I was down there. The last thing that went through my head was just get the guy off the tracks."
The three men were still struggling to lift the man on the tracks onto the platform when other straphangers pitched in. "The people on the platform were pulling him up, pulling us up," said O'Hanlon. "It was like collaboration of teamwork." The three heroes got up just in time. First responders rushed the unconscious man to a hospital. His condition was unclear.
Codrington soon boarded a train to go back to work, and O'Hanlon had a flight to catch back to the Air Force Academy in Colorado. "To witness something like that, witness someone almost being killed, it just puts a lot of things in perspective for me," said Codrington.
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It is a blessing to know that there are still people willing to help when someone is clearly in need, rather than simply looking, watching and/or taking cell phone photos.
Yes, I agree and in all places New York. Maybe things are changing for the better.
There should be a human monitoring the landings at each stop that can stop the train if something like this happens. I am glad that someone decided to help though.
Kudos to these three brave men. This is America at its best. This is the kind of thinking that will keep America an example for the world. No guns. No fanfare... just honest courage and citizenship. Way to go New York!! Once again, you lead the way.
How wonderful to see a story of such heroics. Thank heavens these three men acted unselfishly to rescue the injured man, and did so in a hurry. The others on the platform deserve a big thanks, also, for helping out. Hope the man who fell fully recovers and is able to show his appreciation for these terrific folks who saved his life.
Why was the guy unconscious and fell on the tracks. Nice go guys.
nice to see a really good story for a change. and from NYC to boot.
Goes to show--the kindness of strangers will go a long ways.
And bravo to the people who came to the aid of the heroes when getting the man back onto safety once they pulled him off the tracks. That's amazing and everyone deserves props. Without everyone's help, the man would've died.
Those three guys are the good chromosomes in the gene pool. Let those guys breed like hell, enmass population with the right species for the future. I'm sick and tire of hearing the bad guys.
I don't get the big deal. It's what people do. Okay,maybe it IS unexpected in New York. Even so....... . What is so sad is that if these men hadn't acted the way they did, this man would have no doubt died and we would have never heard about it. Probably would have been just another dead John Doe. Thank you to these everyday Heros!!
That guy has good karma for there to have been a physically fit personal trainer , fit military cadet + another interested person on the spot...not to mention the helpful "straphangers" who pulled them all up.
Hurray for quick thinking compassion.
Maybe this will convince the guy to lose a few pounds so they'll have an easier time getting him back up if this sort of thing happens again.
Those three guys are the good chromosomes in the gene pool. Let those guys breed like hell, enmass population with the right species for the future. I'm sick and tire of hearing the bad guys.
My question is simple. Who wouldn't have done the same? Are people lacking so much in good deeds they must make the news for something that should be done anyways. But kudos, they rescued a human being.
Well, the answer to your question is yes and no. I think most people want to help someone in trouble, but the NYC subway is not so easy. It is very dangerous on the tracks, if you hit the "third rail" you are toast, and hard to get quickly back up on the platform, they are quite deep (if a train approaches, you gotta move it and quick). It is also incredibly filthy and disgusting on most of the tracks. I think a lot of people would think twice before doing this.
Many people would not have not done the same. Many people could not have done the same. Placing your life in mortal danger to save the life of a stranger is the ultimate heroic act. Saying you would have done the same after the fact is very easy and self- assuring.
The most likely truth is that many of us have no idea how we would react in such a situation. It takes a split-second decision with no time for consideration or debate. I feel certain that thoughts of being called a hero are never entertained. That's why so many of these heroes rebuff the title. God bless these men and may they lead long, successful lives for their heroic actions.
This happened not too long ago where someone was actually pushed onto the tracks and people just stood there and watched as the train killed the guy...one even filmed the event as it happened! So to your simple question, a simple answer - unfortunately, many people wouldn't have done the same thing.
Way to go Cadet O'Hanlon, Mr. Cordington, and Mr. Foley - you are courageous for stepping up and helping even in the face of danger.
I cant speak for anyone else. I would ant to say sure I would risk my life for a stranger - I want to say that but since I have never been confronted with the sutuation I dont know how I would react. Anyone who has never been in the situation like this doesn't know what they would do, and ay other answer in my opinion is self serving.
People always tell bad things about New Yorkers. I think they are on the whole great, usually quite helpful to others. I was on a crowded subway in the summer, it got stuck (as often happens, unfortunately) between stations and the air con wasn't working. I started to faint from the heat; people caught me before I hit the ground, put me on a seat, one person said loudly, "I have her purse, I'm holding it for her"...they fanned me and kept me from falling off the seat and made sure I got out of the car okay when we finally did pull into a station, and handed my purse to the subway cop to make sure I got it...wonderful people.
That's very typical New York City!
I am so proud of the 3 gentleman that helped the person. This world would be a better place if there were more people like the 3 of you. God bless
Humanity has way better chance everytime an unselfish act like this happens, Big Kudos to all the people who helped this man.
Maybe there's even a recognition award in there future?
Good job guys, I wish I could shake the hands of heroes like you. I can only wish that, given the opportunity, I myself would be able to jump onto the tracks when a train was coming like you did, very courageous indeed.
Heartwarming heroes. Bless you
Hats off to these guys.
I'd like to see 20 more stories like this per day. They're out there. Make heroes our headlines, please.
How wonderful that there were several people available to help this poor man who fell onto the tracks. Though I did notice those who seemed to wish more people could do such acts of goodness in the world. The perception there is a shortage of good people willing to help others, and great number of evil folks, is actually due to human nature. The news sells that perception.
First, human nature's curiosity is drawn to drama, especially negativity, over peacefulness and goodness.Though we aren't alone. Why even cows will cross a pasture to look at a crash site, but ignore a person changing a tire on that same road. Just as folks will rubber neck to stare at accidents, in studies to determine why we do so.
Second, good deeds,while making us feel good, don't have the same emotional impact as fear, which is a primal emotion. Neither are happiness and satisfaction. Which are much harder to define. Unlike morbid shock or the feeling one gets surviving tragedy. Or almost doing so vicariously through another person's life. That is what the news provides.
Opportunities to add insights,follow the world's drama,appreciation for the life one has and adding humor, interest and color to a fairly routine life, is what we get when we follow the news. Although people all over are really doing countless such things and could fill dozens of pages of print. Let's be honest,those can make you feel happy folks were saved, taken care of, grateful someone was there for others, but highly unlikely to cause adrenalin, nor negative reactions. Or make you feel like when men do awful things to each other. It is true, now those things are far more interesting!
Hence the perception man is truly evil, depraved, and ultimately few men are doing good. There are thousands of stories. Only one slot chosen for a dramatic story. Kudos to heroes everywhere
Awesome!! Now these stories inspire us and make us smile. I like to read them.
As a Cadet is he eligible for the Soldiers and Sailors medal? This is the medal every military person wants to wear. Not so much the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor.
Yes he would be - if there were such a medal. In the ARMy it would be the SOldiers Medal, in the Naval forces (including Marines) it would be Navy and Marine Corps Medal; and in the airforce it would be the Airmans MEdal. As an Qir Force Cadet he would be eligable for the Airmans Medal, and I would hope he is considered for that recognition. It would be interesting to hear the reaction of the Academy because they have had some less than good publicity recently.
Congratulations to these heroes! Great story!
P. S. I had to go look up "straphangers." I took the train for years and didn't know I was a straphanger.
That had to be one hell of a feeling. Knowing that train would arrive at any moment. Geeze
A warm fuzzy story set in a New York Subway? Ironic! Would love more stories of Americans working together to save other Americans. Rather than Americans killing Americans.
Whew! Glad to read good news for once.
These three brave men here, they have not asked or sought any information of this young man, such as if he was a Jew, an Israel, a buddha, a Christian, or whatever, but they just jump in to save this stranger's life.
Thanks to their bravery act. May their act be our model. If one day we have an accident, we would like them to be around.
Thanks again to their Good Samaritan, bravery act.
Ultra bravery! Good job guys.
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That's so crazy, I woke up Sunday morning right near that train platform. Had a crazy dream the that two guys were trying to throw me into a volcano.
Cool story.
I'm sure there is surveillance video that would add to this. Why not air it?
Also, why not identify everyone that helped including every "straphanger" and GIVE each of them free subway riding rights for life.
Something like that would restore faith in the ny transit authority that wasn;t actually there to help.
In the middle of the night there should be a worker waiting in every station?
Cheers to all! Always inspiring to read a great story.
nice work!
Go New York!
This story is a nice contrast to the other stories that have recently appeared in NY news, where people had actually pushed someone onto the tracks. Maybe their is hope for our species yet!
Give those guys medals and money. They deserve it, and give the guy who fell some sympathy and maybe counseling. Why are so many people falling on to tracks at NYC? At this rate NYC might stand for Not Your Community!
The guys who saved the fallen men are not New Yorkers...one is from Texas going to Colorado, the other is a trainer from another State residing at NYC. New Yorkers, who don't get involved or simply yell out instructions, are arrogant and have this notion that they are special or superior. In that regard these men are not NYC. The fact that so many fall on these tracks in NYC is worrisome. NYC is saved by people who move there from somewhere else. They bring out the best in NYC...not Manhattanites...strange insular people.
There are heroes, anti-heroes and the just plain not-involved in every state, every locale. New Yorkers are no different than others. Please don't presume that Manhatten means hate. I read too many posts that are quick to label others by proximity: New Yorkers are arrogant, Californians strange, Floridians old and idiotic, Texans blood-thirsty bounty hunters, etc. This practice is no different than racial stereotyping and should always be discouraged if we are to actually carry on a dialogue in these forums.
Thank you, the soapbox is now yours.
3 HEROES!