The word 'hero' gets tossed around a lot, here's a real one.

[Philosoraptor]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/485218p-408507c.html

Diving onto subway tracks, a Harlem father saved the life of a stranger yesterday when he pinned the flailing man between the rails just seconds before a 370-ton train roared over their entwined bodies.
"Please, sir, don't move," Wesley Autrey, 50, said as he shoved his body against Cameron Hollopeter, who had tumbled off the platform after suffering a seizure. "If you move, one of us is going to lose a leg or die."

The men, who were jammed face-to-face in a 2-foot depression between the tracks, were unharmed by the No. 1 train that screamed over them, just inches away.

"It's miraculous," Hollopeter's grandfather Jeff Friedman, 55, said later. "He's sedated, but the doctor said he's going to be okay."

[Malmo Blue]

1. Re: Hero

:):thumbsup:
Yeah, he is a real hero. =)

[Kiouni]

2. I knew hero's wore playboy hats!

I freak'n knew it!

[Philosoraptor]

3. All super heroes need a costume.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. AWESOME!

He is a HERO!

In a world filled with hate and distrust, along comes someone like him to show that humanity and love for one's fellow wo/man is not dead!

[Philosoraptor]

5. Harrowing!

Reading it scared the hell out of me, then I felt an indescribable rush of joy.

[Heidi]

6. Recommended.

:kick:

[cali]

7. Now that's courage.

amazing. Thanks for posting this story. k&r

[ClintonTyree]

8. Amazing...

that man has a lot of character. How many people would have the split second knowledge and determination to do what he did? There aren't enough stories like this in the news each day, the GOOD things people do for each other. We tend to dwell on the negative, probably because there's just so much of it.

I hope someone steps forward and rewards this man for his selfless, heroic deed. He certainly deserves it.

[DarkTirade]

9. That is effing awesome.

And there's little more I can add to that, other than to say that I mean 'awesome' in it's real definition, not in slang usage. :)

[donheld]

10. What a nice heartwarming story

Thanks for posting.

[unblock]

11. i bet his wife gave him no end of shit for that stunt!

mrs. unblock made me swore to never try anything like that!

i'm a former emt, but i can't imagine leaving my kids on the platform to dive under a train....

[dipsydoodle]

12. Very moving story

Yes - that guy truly is a "real" hero.:thumbsup:

[LeftishBrit]

13. He is a real hero!

I am so glad they are both OK!

[progressoid]

14. holy crap!!

[BoneDaddy]

15. Amazing

WTG my friend

[Triana]

16. Awesome!!!!

K & R for a brave, BRAVE hero!!

:applause:

[sarge43]

17. Mr Autrey, it's an honor to share the planet with you. n/t

[YOY]

18. The definition of hero for me has always been:

"Someone who does what is right, not because it is in their job description, but because is is the right thing to do."

This man is a real bonified hero.

[Philosoraptor]

19. My life too was saved by heroes.

I was in a head on collision at age 15, and a man pulled over and threw his jacket over my face and stopped the bleeding, then people in the emergency room went to work.

Doctors have saved me from death's jaws MANY times, I am alive today only because of a collection of heroes, whose names I'll never know.

[YOY]

21. As a newborn I was pushed off of a table by a sibling

I stopped breathing and turned blue. I would have died if not for a neighbor lady who ran over at full sprint and breathed life back into me.

Yes, that does mean I fell on my head as a kid...

[AlCzervik]

20. i just read about him in my local, excellent! that is one brave man.

[DeepGreen]

22. It is nice to start the day with a smile !

Thanks!!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

23. K&R

:kick:

[Gelliebeans]

24. Wow

What a hero INDEED! :thumbsup:

[Surya Gayatri]

25. May this true hero

and his lovely family be blessed. What a wonderful face he has--a face of genuine compassion. I'm in awe of his selflessness and courage. Real human values in action.

SG :applause:

[NoSheep]

26. I just can't stop crying. (??) This is so amazing.

[Treclo]

62. I did the same when I read about this man earlier...

Tears and gasps of joy. (The older I get, the more emotional I seem to get!) But hey- if you can't be emotional when you read of sacrifice like this, when can you?

[Usrename]

27. unbelievable act of bravery

hero

[blm]

28. And if he attempts to run for office, the GOPs will say he did it to pad his 'resume'

because he was just that calculating.

Salute to those who risk their lives to safe the lives of others and further the decency of humanity for all of us.

[Philosoraptor]

30. Purple heart band aids anyone?

[stevedeshazer]

58. Best reply of the year so far.

Nothing else needs to be said.

[hedgehog]

29. Now that's someone who deserves a parade!

Let's just hope he wasn't docked for being late to work!

[Kadie]

31. Wow.

Amazing story. Thanks for posting.

[Az]

32. Its not miraculous... its human

There is greatness in all people. Its the heroes that remind us.

[TahitiNut]

33. Yep. That's true herosim - he did what was right, immediately.

It's what we do almost without thinking that portrays our inner fiber. Wesley Autrey's inner fiber was tested and graded "A+" - a man I'm glad to call hero.

[Hoping4Change]

34. This would be a great movie. The fact that he was with his two young

daughters when made his decision to jump onto the tracks makes this act of courage all the more staggering. This is truly a great man.

[NashVegas]

44. The Guy He Rescued Is an Aspiring Director

Who knows?

[Th1onein]

35. Look at the precious man!

What a beautiful smile! What a WONDERFUL start to my day! I wonder if I can get his address? I'd like to send him a card and some money!

[Straight Shooter]

36. What's that label on his shirt? I see an American flag.

What a smile. No matter what happens in this man's life, he'll know he was here for a purpose.

bush needs to yank the Medal of Freedom away from Bremer and give it to Wesley Autrey. :)

[applegrove]

37. That is truly amazing!

[Frank Cannon]

38. I see this kind of thing in movies all the time

But I've always thought "NO WAY could that ever happen."

That guy is solid gold.

[madmusic]

39. K&R

[Bethany Rockafella]

40. Wow! How awesome.

Look at him sporting that proud smile. He should be given the key to the city!

[emmadoggy]

41. Incredible courage and humanity.

The world needs more like him. O8)

[Minnesota_Lib]

42. OMG! That is simply incredible bravery. Nothing in a phony Hollywood action movie could top that.

[Philosoraptor]

43. Wesley's got it all OVER Batman.

[sammythecat]

45. Saw this on another thread earlier.

This truly is a heartwarming story in every sense. I hope good fortune shines on this man.

[Minnesota_Lib]

46. I've been watching cable news all day and not a mention of this amazing story/

Seems odd. I think I'll email this story to KO.

[Ikonoklast]

47. I want Mr. Autrey on MY team

Without thinking of his own safety, with utter disregard of the danger, in order to save a complete strangers life.......Wow.....just WOW.

I guess there are Angels living in Harlem.

[wicket]

48. God bless Wesley Autrey!!!!

:kick:

[madmax]

49. Balls of steel

and a heart of Gold! Gotta respect and love this man.

[Parche]

50. HERO

Yes he IS a hero, anyone in our Military now and past is a hero, firefighters and police are hero's.

Professional sports players are NOT hero's although some people say they are

[dennis00]

51. I just called Pelosi's office

I suggested that Mr. Autrey be recognized by congress for the heroic thing he did, with his family in attendance. The person I talked to will pass along my suggestion to Ms. Pelosi.

[TroglodyteScholar]

52. This guy is hands-down badass of the year. H-E-R-O for true! n/t

[GenDem]

53. Unbelievable human interest story!

A true hero!!!!I hope they elevate Wesley Autrey for his bravery!

[Bluerthanblue]

54. "I saved a life, what a way to start off a new year...."....

...

We need to take a page out of your life Wesley- Thank you for your humanity.

[northofdenali]

55. Gawdalmighty ! What a wonderful guy, is Mr. Autrey!

:thumbsup::applause::thumbsup:

[Maestro]

56. I read about this at the CBS website.

Just amazing and to imagine that he was covering up a person in a full seizure so that their limbs wouldn't be ripped off by the train. Good thing that ditch between tracks was deep enough for them. Really, the guy had to be thinking that there was a good chance the train would take them both. What courage! I wonder if pretzelnut would have left his two daughters to save the gentleman.

[Cobalt-60]

57. he must have balls as big as church bells

[AikidoSoul]

59. What is it about the human spirit that makes people take huge risks

to save strangers? I know that it's something that lives in us and even in many animals.

Not Bush of course.

The pure goodness in Autry's face and in his selfless act is truly inspiring.

[Danger Mouse]

60. Right on!!!

Good man. A true hero, brave and selfless. :yourock: :applause: :woohoo: :headbang:

[midnight]

61. Good job.

[fujiyama]

63. Wow!

Not much else that can be said.

He reminds me of a character from a Comic book!

[Voltaire99]

64. Now THAT'S a hero.

And look: he didn't have to kill any foreign women or children, either.

Rock on, Mr. Autrey.

[SoCalDem]

65. He's going to be on Letterman's show tomorrow night:)

I can't wait to see him :) That's true heroism.

[piesRsquare]

66. Wow!

As a Human Being and someone with epilepsy, thank you, Mr. Autrey! You and your family are in my prayers!

Note to all: The complete story in the Daily News mentions that Mr. Autrey placed a pen in Hollopeter's mouth to "prevent him from swallowing his tongue".

Never, never NEVER attempt to put something in the mouth of an individual having a seizure! It is physically impossible to swallow one's tongue, and attempting to place something in a seizing person's mouth could result in injury to either you, the patient, or (most likely) both.

I write this extra comment in an effort to help "stamp out" an all-too-common misconception. Mr. Autrey was doing what he thought best; I know his heart was in the right place.

[Philosoraptor]

67. That's good to know, thanks for that.