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January 3, 2007A Hero is as Hero Does, Part II
What a great story! A real hero in the city! A hero construction worker left his two young daughters on a Harlem subway platform and leaped into the path of an oncoming train yesterday to rescue a stranger who had fallen on the tracks. “Tell my little girls that Daddy is OK!” Wesley Autrey shouted from under the No. 1 train after it screeched to a halt. It was just inches above him and the film student he pushed into the trough between the tracks. Amazingly, neither Autrey nor the man he saved, 20-year-old Cameron Hollopeter, was seriously injured, even though the train grazed the construction worker’s wool cap. The story of this man’s selfless act (and quick-thinking) could not be more dramatic - and terrifying for his kids: Autrey and two women ran to his aid. Autrey yelled to the station agent to call for help, and then used a pen to pry open Hollopeter’s jaw to stop him from biting his tongue. A few moments later, Hollopeter came to and stood up. “Are you all right?” Autrey asked. But before he could complete the question, Hollopeter stumbled and fell onto the tracks as the southbound train rumbled in. “He landed between the tracks,” Autrey said. “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 wrapped my arms and legs around him and tightened up. I had to lock my whole body.” He maneuvered himself and Hollopeter into the trough between the tracks, where “we maybe had one or two inches.” Autrey said that all he remembered is the sound of the screeching brakes replaced with the screams of his two daughters. “I’m OK,” Autrey shouted from underneath the train. “He was saving the man under the train and the train just went past,” Shaqui said. Syshe added, “He saved a man.” So the Wesley Autrey saves the life of another man, says, “you’re supposed to come to people’s rescue” and then goes to work. Awesome. And humbling. Real heroes never think they’ve done something heroic. Thanks, Mr. Autrey, for being such an inspiring example. We are all enlarged by your noble action. Blue Crab Boulevard has more, as does Right Coast, who wonders if Autrey’s heroic selflessness has something to do with his military service. I wouldn’t be surprised. http://theanchoressonline.com/2007/01/03/a-hero-is-as-hero-does-part-ii/trackback/ 4 Responses to “A Hero is as Hero Does, Part II” |
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:18 pm
[...] Autry is an amazing man who just taught his little girls more about courage in those few moments in the subway than many parents teach their children their whole lives. The example of parents can make the difference in how children live their lives. When I’ve faced scary moments in my life I have invariably hearkened back to my parents’ example in any given situation and that has helped me to face my moments of terror. [...]
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:15 pm
What a truly admirable man! I hope his two daughters truly understand what a fine human being their father is.
People like Mr. Autrey give me hope that the world isn’t quite in the pickle it generally seems to be.
January 3rd, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Wesley Autrey Rescues Teen on Subway Platform
These are the kinds of stories I love. I mean, I hate that people find themselves in these kinds of situations, but these stories remind us that there are heros everywhere. We never know when we are in the presence of a real hero.
Bystander Pulls of D…
January 4th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
[...] Bloggers from all over the country have picked up on the story I wonder if non-New Yorkers realize just how fast those cars come into a platform and how nasty those ditches are (think stale beer, rats, urine and roaches)? [...]