Angels Among Us

Investor's Business Daily ^ | 4 Jan 2007 | Editorial staff

[Kitten Festival]

Heroism: To leap in front of a 370-ton locomotive to save a stranger in a dank New York subway pit takes a kind of courage we'd all like to think we have but don't. Wesley Autrey showed it Tuesday and elevated us all.

The new year has begun on a high note from Harlem after Autrey, 50, a construction worker on his way to work with his two little daughters, headed into Manhattan's 137th Street-City College station.

Before he got through the turnstile, Autrey spotted a young man thrashing about in a seizure and called for help. But he didn't wait for it to come. He rushed to the side of 18-year-old Cameron Hollopeter, borrowing a pen from another rider and prying open the student's jaws to keep him from swallowing his tongue.

But that was only Autrey's first rescue. As Hollopeter got up, he tumbled onto the subway tracks. That's when Autrey showed what he was really made of. Handing off his girls to another rider, he leapt into the rat-infested pit to rescue the still-flailing teen.

The headlights of an oncoming subway train bore down on them, but there was no time to escape. Facing the monster head on, Autrey dived into icy water under the front of the thundering train, bear-hugging Hollopeter in hope that their best chance lay in a few inches of space beneath the train as at least two cars rumbled over them. Miraculously, they survived.

Where do people like this come from, such angels among us? Although little is known of Autrey beyond the fact of his stupendous rescue, two details stand out.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

This is one of the most amazing stories I have heard in years.

[Kitten Festival]

Me too. I just can't imagine anyone that selfless. The guy had values, that's all I can think.

[Mad Dawg]

YEp, it's a brave deed, and I hope I could do as well.

However, we don't do the "prevent them from swallowing the tongue" thing anymore. I speak as father of epileptic kid (grand mal) and SAR type person. But that's a quibble. The man showed that to which we all should aspire.

[Taggart_D]

The end of the story was just as good as the beginning....what a great story

Meanwhile, a remark for Newsday by his mother revealed the spiritual grounding that is also the bedrock of many great endeavors. "It was the Lord who did it," said Mary Autrey. "Can you picture it? God just moved that train over him."

As the new year dawns, Wesley Autrey's heroics have uplifted America by reminding us that God and country are values that still serve us well against any oncoming train.

[kitkat]

I thought you'd be happy to know that Investor's Business Daily agrees with the comment you made on a previous thread about the same subject.

[metmom]

ping

[mewzilla]

Related link...

SUPER DAY FOR A HERO NYC LOVES SUBWAY SAVIOR

God bless him.

[pgkdan]

I love this story! Mr. Autrey is a genuine hero and I honor him...I love his mother's response and the city's reaction to Mr. Autrey. This could have been a Gary Cooper movie, directed by Frank Capra ala 1946. May God Bless Mr. Autrey.

[Joe 6-pack]

"To leap in front of a 370-ton locomotive to save a stranger in a dank New York subway pit takes a kind of courage we'd all like to think we have but don't."

These were my thoughts when I first heard about this story yesterday...Mr. Autrey is a genuine hero.

[Joe Boucher]

Can you imagine the pride and fear in his children?
Dad is a hero, and they deserve to be proud.
What a remarkable lesson for us all.

[Argus]

Aside from the sheer guts, what struck me most about this guy was how utterly unassuming he is. True Christian humility as you rarely see it anymore.

[Mad Dawg]

Mom says:

Meanwhile, a remark for Newsday by his mother revealed the spiritual grounding that is also the bedrock of many great endeavors. "It was the Lord who did it," said Mary Autrey. "Can you picture it? God just moved that train over him."

You GO, girl! Just perfectly right! So excellent! Maybe not great theology but awesome testimony!

The muslims say Allahu Akbar, but this Mom said it so much better, and about an act of sacrifical and courageous love, not slaughter.

ALLELUIA!

Excuse me, got carried away there.

---

[Rte66]

God bless him. I have been so impressed with all I've seen of him in interviews. Trump gave him $10,000 today and I hope to heavens someone is going to pay those little girls' college tuition.

I also heard he gets to ride the subway free for a year, or was it for life? Should be! Bless him, bless him, bless him.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you so much! Whether someon saw my post or simply had similar thoughts, it is certainly satisfying to see the sentiment in print.

[TET1968]

12 free pass tickets good for a year

[Rte66]

That's all? Well, OK. I hope that's all day every day for each month. God bless him!

[TET1968]

I think they are unlimited for a year...12 of them.

[Kitten Festival]

Look at this man's incredible humility - look at what he said in that NY Post article:The Navy vet added, "I didn't think I did anything heroic. The real heroes are fighting overseas."

[TET1968]

I think this guy should be honored at the White House.