‘Help Him Up!’: A Witness’s Account of Panic on a Subway Platform

God bless this young man! God bless him!

There are a lot of distractions on the New York City Subway platforms. Like one of the photos in the article where the blond female is way too close to the tracks and on her mobile phone doing who knows what. Facebook, Instagram, and twitter can wait. One needs to focus on the New York City Subway platform. The subway system in NYC is not like Burger king, you can't "have it your way". Drunks and people high on drugs are prevalent right and left, standing on the NYC subway platforms. And the NYC cops don't do anything because the junkies and the boozers are mostly homeless psychos. And the cops just want to get home safely to their wife and kids, after a day of giving people traffic tickets right and left. It is high time that people care. The New York of Kitty Genovese's time is long gone. Post 9-11 New Yorker's must care. And the blond female in the photo in the article must put her cellular phone away and step away from being too close to the tracks.

Silly thing but it made me happy to do. When I first starting riding the subway, I was on the #1 train and a homeless man was holding a kitten and putting a lit joint to its lips, trying to get it to smoke it. I couldn't stand watching it so I got a $5 bill from my purse and asked him if he'd exchange it for the cat. He did - I brought the cat to work - and I found a very good home for him. Not as dramatic as jumping into the subway but it still felt good.

I think David Capuzzo represents the best thing in New Yorkers. Too many of us were fooled by the coverage of the Kitty Genovese matter many years ago into thinking New Yorkers were cold. A new documentary shows that back then people did respond including one who held the young woman as she lay dying. It was only the press coverage led by you-know-who used that unfortunate event to create the lie New Yorkers are cold. Capuzzo represents the real New York, the real America, the real human.

This story is one of the many reasons I LOVE NEW YORK!

I am touched by these stories. It is especially heartening because I moved to Texas long ago due to marriage, and so many people here have stereotypical beliefs about New Yorkers and people in the East in general. We are all supposed to be cold and rude and uncaring. I never found that to be true when I lived in NY. As in all places there are good people as well as people who don't care. I have always been proud to call myself a Puerto Rican, but in Texas I also learned to call myself a proud New Yorker. Kudos for all the kind hearted people all over.

Years ago I turned a corner to see a first-floor apartment door billowing smoke out into a parking lot filled with about 30 people. An old man came down a flight of outside stairs, shouting over, "la nina esta adentro". I dropped my suitcase and went in to pull the baby out of the fire.
The baby I'd imagined turned out to be a girl of 16-18. I went through the kitchen, filled with black smoke, all four burners on the stove burning high, and found the girl lying on a mattress amid bright patches of flame. I scooped her up, used her to shove the grandfather out the door in the black smoke and laid her on the asphalt. Everyone watched.
She was foaming at the mouth, apparently in some kind of seizure. That was it for me. I reached up and behind me and grabbed the nearest spectator by his dungaree jacket, pulled him down on his knees, yelled "help her" and ran to call the police.
I don't feel that I really did any of this, though I remember it clearly from so long ago. Later I tried unsuccessfully to find out if the girl survived, if she was okay. But I pretty much know: she was not okay. Was it drugs, the poverty of the neighborhood, crime, abuse? Whatever it was, I'm not sure that I helped much in the long run. I hope, of course, that she went on to lead a good life. But when I think about this, and when I think about the more frightening thing David Capuzzo did, I also imagine how much harder it might have been to try to help that man before he fell onto the track.

I cried reading this - so grateful for the bravery of the young man. As the article notes, this is one of my biggest fears - either falling or getting pushed into the tracks, or seeing it happen to someone else and being too afraid to jump down to get them - I wonder all the time about how high the wall is and whether I would possibly be able to get back up to the platform before being killed. I've resigned myself to the fact that at 5'2" and 48 years old I probably wouldn't be able to do it - but I will use all of my strength on the platform yanking the person back up. It's horrible to have to get ready for something like this but we seem to hear these stories all the time - it seems that better safety measures could prevent these incidents.

Very brave. As a cynical New Yorker, I must ask whether you got your bag back after the rescue was completed.

As a New Yorker, I'm not surprised. Even though we get a bad rep for being cold and uncaring, New Yorkers always come through in situations like these. Well done, Mr. Capuzzo!

Years ago, I was waiting for the L at Lorimer and a man passed out and fell onto the tracks. He hit is head on the way down and was totally dazed. My instinct was to sprint to the station booth to tell the agent there so she could warn the train not to come into the station, but she didn't seem to know what to do. Fortunately, some Good Samaritans, like David Capuzzo, pulled him back up onto the platform by the time I got back.
Do station agents have a way of contacting dispatchers? Does anyone know how to get a message to dispatchers to stop trains?

More of these please!!

Life constantly arranges opportunities for us to be real heroes. They may not be s dramatic as this one or as observed by others, but we we will all get at least one opportunity. Nothing in it for us, just do it. It never really registers that we might be killed or something too. A brother/sister is in dire danger, in deep stress and need. We act. That is what being human is. It is an inborn connection with each other, it is what constitutes compassion and love. It is being Human. It is what dies when one becomes heartless and unable to see one's selves in others.

I loved reading your article about one of the good guys of New York City, David Capuzzo. Thanks.

Well done Mr. Capuzzo! You are far braver than me. I'm years past the point of being able to jump down on the tracks and make it back up.

It is very admirable that people risk their own lives to help someone in need like this. It would be even better if as a society we cared enough about homeless persons to help them to begin with.

This story knocks on the heart of humanity. Thank you.

About 10 years ago I was in the first car of the 1 train as it pulled into 42nd Street heading downtown. At that point the platform separates slightly from the train due to a curve in the track. A man was not paying attention and it had been raining so he slipped on the edge of the doorway exiting the train and his leg slipped between the platform and the train itself. The door chime sounded and the doors were going to close. I pounded on the door of the driver to let him know what was happening because the conductor, being 5 cars back, couldn't see what was going on that far up front. Luckily I was able, with the help of another passenger, to extract the gentleman from his situation. Later, the man contacted me to see if I would testify in a deposition as he was going to sue the MTA. I told him no- it was his own inattention that got him in the situation in the first place, and the platform was clearly marked for all to see. I didn't consider it a heroic act, just something that needed to be done and immediately.

many words are overused, awesome, genius and hero amongst them

a hero is someone who voluntarily puts his life in danger to save another

and if that other is a stranger, hes even more of a hero

In 1985 I stood on that same subway tracks, on my way to my temp secretarial job. I could see no one else on the platform, but I heard a soft moaning. I walked down the platform and saw a very drunk homeless man in the track. A very powerful voice came out of me-my father's voice when he yelled at us kids, or yelled to the boys he coached running track-it came out strong and clear-GET UP! GET UP! GET UP! And the drunk man heard me. He started to get up and the rumble of the train started getting louder. The drunk man staggered over towards me. A teenaged boy came out of no where and jumped into the track. He heaved while I received and thanks to adrenaline we had him up on the platform in seconds. I looked at my fellow rescuer and said a simple thanks. The train pulled in moments later and we both walked on to the almost empty F train while the drunk man curled up to slept in the center of the platform. I'm glad I found that voice.

Same situation, same guy? platform of Metro North 125th Street about three or four weeks ago. Standing, rather teeterning at the edage and swaying, he appeared to be completely intoxicated --but his pants were up around his waist. About half a dozen of us watched him sway toward the tracks. I walked up to him and said rather loudly: "Stand back. Stand back! You are in no condition to stand up. Move back to the pillar." A train arrives about five minutes later. He staggers foward and on to the train car scarcely able to stand on his own. Doors close train leaves the station.

I remember Wesley Autrey being given a free monthly Metrocard by the MTA for his efforts in saving Cameron Hollopeter. Maybe David Capuzzo will be given a "Don't Have To Wait In Line" pass to the new Bryant Park bathrooms.

"Maybe some people thought about approaching him — as I did — and took another look at those fallen pants, the streaked pale legs — as I did — and decided to keep their distance. I did."

I respect Mr. Wilson for admitting this brutal coldness.

It is refreshing to know that they are still good people in this world.

As I glanced at the stream of rather depressing stories of our deeply callow administration this morning and then suddenly saw this glimmer of human strength! And he is an artist! And i checked out his website and he is really good! Nice new york story. I hope our hero get a break and someone pYs him for his art!

Congratulations, Mr. Capuzzo. And Thank YOU! In these pages we read so much distressing news, it's nice to see there are some decent human beings in our midst, sort of like Guardian Angels. I am glad you and other guardians were present that day to remind us all that we have to care for each other and that everyone of us is worth saving.

Nearly all metro systems in Asia (e.g. Bangkok, Shanghai) have barriers to prevent this from happening. There is no excuse for NYC's failure to have such a system. A search for figures on these deaths show that 50 deaths a year (mentioned by a commenter) in the subway is roughly correct during the past decade. The number does include suicides which make up about half these deaths.

There are many heroic acts that are never reported in the press (no fault of the press - it's just that no one knows about them). 15 years ago, my daughter was on a subway platform and fainted. She didn't fall onto the tracks, but she smashed into the side of a staircase and broke her nose and completely bruised her face. (She looked like she had been severely beaten.)

One young woman came to her aid for which we will be forever grateful. That woman is a hero as well.

These people who risk their own lives jumping onto the tracks to save a stranger are amazing. I really don't think I could do it. Thankfully, I've never been in the situation where I would of have to have made that choice.

Great NYC story

Great story about heroic everyday people. Hats off to anyone who helps to save someone who has fallen onto the tracks!

Perhaps this is a good moment to point out that sadly, these scary and sometimes tragic scenes are ultimately the result of bad management, planning, and design. It should not be possible for anyone to fall onto the subway tracks; there should be a wall preventing such a thing from happening. The train comes in and lines up its doors with matching doors in the wall, and both doors open together to allow boarding. If you have ever ridden on the Air Train at JFK, which has such an arrangement, you know what I am talking about.

Why not build these protective walls in the NYC subway? Because no one knows where the money would come from? Nonsense. The job of government is exactly to arrange for such money, to protect the people of the city. The real reasons are lack of vision and imagination, terrible leadership, and ultimately, pure stupidity.

Did you know over 50 people are killed each year when they fall, or are pushed, onto the tracks in NYC? How can we say to the people who are destined to die in this way this year, "Sorry, nobody cares"?

These walls would also enable the platforms to be air conditioned, and protected from the smells and pathogens of the rat-infested tracks.

Our obsolete subway is presently a toxic environment of remarkable stress and danger. We have the technology to improve things; let's get it together. This is 2017, not 1904.

I just hope his hurt hand isn't his illustrating hand.

These are the true heroes in life.

Wow. What a quick thinking, fearless young man. Best wishes for you in the future.

What a beautifully written story.

On Election Day 1971 I was awaiting a train to Manhattan at Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn with a large crowd of other commuters when a young woman apparently fainted and fell to the tracks. Two young men jumped to the tracks as I started a group wave to stop the train that was entering the station -- fortunately, it was around a curve and going slow. I jumped down too and looked up to see that the train had stopped. We lifted her up, hurried by the commuters, and by the time I climbed up police were leading her away. She had regained consciousness. Then we all continued to work as if nothing had happened (No reporter was present). Another New York morning.

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." - Booker T. Washington

I think Mr. Washington would agree that David Capuzzo embodies both the literal and figurative embodiment of his famous quotation. Kudos to this brave young man! My soul is refreshed reading this story.

Yet another great example of why, when stuff goes south, I would always choose to be in NYC.

A true act of bravery and humanity. Hats off to you David!

Thanks for the article, and thanks for helping the man. But I was hoping to see an illustration of the rails, and a word of advice to anyone who might find themselves in a similar predicament - do I help, and where, exactly, is that third rail?

I witnessed this kind of episode a couple of months ago at Queens Plaza. A young woman with a backpack had apparently fainted and fallen onto the tracks. Within seconds, at least four guys jumped onto the tracks and lifted her right up onto the platform. People were using the call box and running up to alert the station workers that there was someone on the tracks. Within two minutes, a train came barreling in. The conductor said he was aware of the situation, but it certainly didn't look that way from the train's approach into the station. The woman was very fortunate there were so many selfless people who instantly jumped to her aid.

Great story. Very heroic.
But, on a related note, De Blasio has told the NYPD Transit Bureau to stop making arrests, and to let anyone and everyone into the subway, whether they pay a fare or not. The result is an increase of panhandlers, homeless people with tons of garbage, and even some violent, psychotic people (in the last few months, I witnessed an unprovoked stabbing, and I was the subject of an unprovoked threat). The mayor doesn't care, because the subways are run by the state, and the state will be blamed for any problems. It's too bad - a strong mass transit system is as important a progressive cause as any other. I wish the NY Times would report on this, but it does not comport with the Times view that "Every cop is a criminal, and all the sinners, saints".

The young man in this story acted with great courage and bravery. Always proud to be a New Yorker.