A Roosevelt Island resident reports on an incident observed last Tuesday morning on the Roosevelt Island subway platform. According to the resident:
This morning on my way to work arriving at the Manhattan bound “M” at 10ish there was a young man possibly of Hispanic descent sitting on the edge of the platform on the danger side of the new fence things that they have installed.
It caught my attention. It seemed odd and worrisome. It said 6 minutes arrival when I started down. I watched him, he seemed in some sort of stress. I looked around, pretty crowded platform, mostly looking at their phones (no judgement I do that too Spelling Bee) but this one woman was also looking at him and I saw her concern.
I walked up to her and asked if we should ask if he is okay, and she said let’s. I asked if he was okay and he was sort of annoyed, why are you asking and the woman, who I believe was maybe of eastern European descent, definitely had an accent was like… “You have to get up, this is dangerous” just insistent that he not be there, would not let him stay there, so he got up and walked away from us and down the platform and continued to stand at the edge of the platform. Like toes hanging off of the platform with his hands scrunching looking forward.
At this point the train is coming. I am in complete panic that I am about to witness someone jump in front of the train. I thought if I was close enough I could grab him but was arguing in my mind that I was crazy, but lóoking at the face of this lady made me think I was at least not alone.
At that moment some dashing Super Hero asked us “have you spoken to that young man?” The woman said “yes and something isn’t right”. And literally as the subway pulled into the station the man just gently yet surely put his arm across the young man’s chest and pushed him back from the edge. I have no idea if the man meant to jump but I am grateful for the other’s who cared just in case.
Love my island.
I asked the resident:
Did you see what happened afterwards? How did the young man react to the ” super hero” who put his arm across his chest? Did he get on the Train or stay on the platform?
The resident replied:
I am not sure I got on the train once I saw that he was okay.
There has been a group of 3-4 middle aged people at the eastern edge of the subway platform smoking dope AND, i believe, shooting up heroin or some such intravenous drug each day I have taken the train this week. This is a nightmare that everyone else who sees it runs away from. Where are the cops??
Yes … Where are the cops!