TORNOTO – A potentially scary situation was averted this past Wednesday after a man fell onto the tracks of the Philadelphia subway – and a fellow passenger immediately rushed to his aid.
Security cameras in the 15th Street Station of Philadelphia’s Market-Frankford Subway Line captured the moment an unidentified man walking too close to the edge of the subway platform lost his balance and fell directly onto the tracks Wednesday evening.
Moments after the man’s fall, another passenger, 28-year-old Charles Collins, does a quick check to see if there is an oncoming train – then jumps down onto the tracks to aid the fallen man, later identified as Alfred McNamee.
According to The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), both men were taken to hospital following the incident. McNamee is reported to have suffered several broken bones, while Collins suffered a minor leg injury.
SEPTA officials say it’s unclear what caused the man to fall onto the tracks, besides his obvious close proximity to the edge of the platform.
The transit authority praised the actions of not only the Good Samaritan, but all the passengers who gathered around to help both men back onto the platform.
“This was a case where everybody almost in view jumped in and got involved,” said SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestal.
However, they are warning passengers to always be wary of the electrified third rail, and say the first thing commuters should do in any emergency is to notify a SEPTA official immediately.
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