BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WPIX) – Two NYPD officers saved a man who fell onto subway tracks just seconds before the train rolled into the station, video of the rescue shows.
The harrowing rescue happened at the Lafayette Avenue subway station in Brooklyn on Saturday. A 36-year-old man suffered a medical episode and fell onto the southbound C train tracks, police said.
The NYPD released body camera video of the rescue. It shows Officers Azharul Chowdhury and Brian Caminero running down the platform to help the man stuck on the tracks.
“Give me your hand. Quick! Train! Give me your hand,” Caminero yelled at the man.
The train’s horn can be heard blaring as it neared the station.
Caminero then grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him back up onto the platform, and out of harm’s way.
The man was transported to a hospital. He is expected to be OK.
Right before the incident occurred, Chowdhury and Caminero were conducting inspections at another train station about a block and a half away. They explained how the events unfolded.
“All of a sudden we heard over the radio, ‘A male on the track,’” Chowdhury said.
That’s when they started running.
“We had to get there. Who cares if stuff is flying off us. We carry a lot of stuff, but who cares? Someone is on the tracks. We have to go save their life and help them,” Caminero said.
Their adrenaline and training kicked in.
“He was dazed. He didn’t even know he was on tracks,” Caminero continued. “I had to yell at him, ‘Hey, give me your hand, a train is coming,’ and he was able to get close enough to the point where I could grab him and pull him out.”
At the same time, Chowdhury used his flashlight to try and alert the train to stop. It was a coordinated effort that saved the man’s life.
“Who knows what would have happened if we didn’t show up. We were at the right place at the right time,” Caminero said.