Unconscious man rescued from tracks moments before train arrives at New York station
A man who lost consciousness and fell onto subway tracks was heroically rescued by a police officer and a passenger just moments before a train pulled up to the platform.
Footage shows a man lying face down and motionless in the middle of train tracks at a subway station in the Bronx, New York, as bystanders rush to the platform edge. People can be heard shouting for help and to "slow the train down", before an officer jumps down onto the tracks to help the passenger.
A good Samaritan quickly joins to lift him up before commuters and officers pull him to safety on the platform, as the lights of a train are seen approaching in the distance.
The crowd cheers as the officer and passenger quickly hoist themselves up to safety, just moments before the train pulls up at the station.
Sharing the footage on Twitter, New York Police Department (NYPD) said the force helps citizens "at any cost" and paid tribute to the bystander who stepped in to save the man.
"When a sick strap hanger lost consciousness and fell on the subway tracks in the Bronx, @NYPDTransit officers didn’t hesitate for a moment to put his safety ahead of their own. We’re also grateful to the Good Samaritan who bravely helped," tweeted the force.
A "strap hanger" is an American term to describe a passenger standing on a subway, tram, bus, or train who clings onto one of the short straps placed along the aisles for support.
NYPD's chief of transit, Chief Kathleen O’Reilly, shared the video and wrote: "That’s officers Lopez, Peguero, Sugrim, and Caban-Bailon from District 12 working as a team to flag the train and get the man to safety. Thank you to everyone who assisted!"