A Man Down, a Train Arriving, and a Stranger Makes a Choice

[The Stranger]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/nyregion/03life.html?hp&ex=1167886800&en=8ed5fe0a88df5986&ei=5094&partner=homepage

January 3, 2007

A Man Down, a Train Arriving, and a Stranger Makes a Choice

By CARA BUCKLEY

It was every subway rider’s nightmare, times two.

Who has ridden along New York’s 656 miles of subway lines and not wondered: “What if I fell to the tracks as a train came in? What would I do?”

And who has not thought: “What if someone else fell? Would I jump to the rescue?”

Wesley Autrey, a 50-year-old construction worker and Navy veteran, faced both those questions in a flashing instant yesterday, and got his answers almost as quickly.

. . . .

The headlights of the No. 1 train appeared. “I had to make a split decision,” Mr. Autrey said.

So he made one, and leapt.

With so many criminals wielding so much governmental power, I want to lift up this man, this hero.

[Drum]

1. A nice reminder that this kind of person populates our city too....

Excellent story...thanks to The Stranger for posting it here.

:)

[Dhalgren]

2. Mr. Autrey is an amazing man and a true hero.

Thanks, Stranger, this is a story that I needed. Mr. Autrey's bravery is an inspiration....

[yardwork]

3. What an absolutely wonderful story - praises to Wesley Autrey!

[yy4me]

4. This man deserves some kind of REAL COURAGE award,

how many of us would have the courage to do what he did. He should be praised and thanked by all of us. I hope I could muster up the courage to do the same type of thing if I ever had the opportunity. He put himself in harms way to help another person. Is there any higher courage than that?

[EnviroBat]

5. Damn, not THAT was ballsy!

That's got to be some scary shit to have a train roll over you like that... Way to go man!

[Sequoia]

6. Amazing! A true hero that's for sure.

[Sequoia]

7. Amazing! A true hero that's for sure.

[unpossibles]

8. bravo!

good to see shining examples of human decency.

[pansypoo53219]

9. i see him more civilized

evolved and social.
something the republikkkans hate.
the man who fell just had to pick himself up all by himself.
NYC is a wonderful place. and i bet he's black.

[unpossibles]

10. he is and he is

[unpossibles]

20. very nice!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070105/ap_on_re_us/subway_rescue

NEW YORK - A man's daring rescue of a teen who fell on the subway tracks earned him the unique title "the hero of Harlem" on Thursday, plus $10,000 from Donald Trump and a trip to Disney World.

[BurtWorm]

11. What perfect human behavior!

Even thinking of his daughters first thing when he knew he was allright.

:applause:

[Beaverhausen]

12. Oh my god!

The man he saved obviously was very lucky, and had a guardian angel make sure Autry, a true hero, was there to save him.

[Divernan]

13. I just nominated him for the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission award

I just completed and submitted the nomination form to recognize the extraordinary heroism
of Mr. Autrey, and contacted the New York Times reporter to provide further information to the Commission.

In these dark years of murder, mayhem, warfare, racism and violence(too often funded by US taxpayers' dollars), it is so important to recognize the heros amongst us and hold them up as examples for all of us, especially our children.

In addition to public recognition and a commemorative medal, those rescuers recognized by the Commission, or their survivors are eligible for financial consideration, including one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits and continuing assistance. I think a 50 year old construction worker with two pre-school age kids, could well use some financial assistance

What is the Carnegie Hero Fund?


The two-fold mission of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission: To recognize persons who perform acts of heroism in civilian life in the United States and Canada, and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependants of those killed helping others.

We live in a heroic age, Andrew Carnegie wrote in the opening lines of the Commission's founding Deed of Trust in 1904. Not seldom are we thrilled by deeds of heroism where men or women are injured or lose their lives in attempting to preserve or rescue their fellows.

Carnegie's "hero fund," administered by a 21-member commission in Pittsburgh, was charged with honoring whom he called the "heroes of civilization," whose lifesaving actions put them in stark contrast to the "heroes of barbarism, (who) maimed or killed" their fellow man. That the mission of the Hero Fund as set forth by Carnegie is unchanged over 103 years, despite massive upheaval in the social and world order, is testament both to his foresight and to essentially unchanging human nature.

The Commission's working definition of a hero as well as its requirements for awarding remain largely those that were approved by the founder. The candidate for an award must be a civilian who voluntarily risks his or her life to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the life of another person. The rescuer must have no full measure of responsibility for the safety of the victim. There must be conclusive evidence to support the act's occurrence, and the act must be called to the attention of the Commission within two years.

Those who are selected for recognition by the Commission are awarded the CARNEGIE MEDAL, and they, or their survivors, become eligible for financial considerations, including one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance. To date, 9,053 medals have been awarded, the recipients selected from more than 80,000 nominees. About 20 percent of the medals are awarded posthumously. Awardees are announced five times a year, following meetings of the Commission.

As the Commission is a private operating foundation recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, donations are deductible as charitable contributions by the donor to the extent permitted by law.

[TahitiNut]

15. Great idea! He's a perfect candidate! Here's the nomination page ...

http://www.carnegiehero.org/nominate_form.php

[Divernan]

16. I already submitted the application.

It might be a good idea to simply send them an email in support of his nomination, rather than filling out all the facts again.

You can email them at: [e-mail]

[TahitiNut]

14. Syshe and Shuqui have a memory more precious than gold.

These two girls have a father to be proud of for the rest of their lives. What a profoundly wonderful legacy!
:applause:

[Divernan]

17. They have an example more precious than gold, but the memory may cause nightmares.

Can you imagine anything more terrifying than seeing your father leap in front of a subway train with brakes screaming and people screaming, and seeing this huge train going over your dad? Talk about traumatic! Twice in my life I stepped in to break up physical attacks by (1) a pimp on a very young prostitute on a downtown street; and (2) 5 gang member/teens beating up 1 pre-teen kid. I didn't have to get physical - simply my big mouth shouting with great authority and rage that I was an officer of the court stopped the attacks. Both times my relatives/professional associates chastised me for risking my own injury, and one of my fellow lawyers said, "Remind me never to walk down a street with you." Mr. Autrey's wife may well be angry that he risked his life, and leaving her a widow and his kids fatherless. And that's a valid issue. But still, it takes an exceptional and great person to do what he did.

[quiet.american]

18. Amazing! And then he still went to work that night! Amazing. n/t

[sammythecat]

19. Makes me proud to be human.

To be of the same species as this man. Truly a hero. I wish I could reward him.

Thanks for posting this great story.