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Philadelphia commuter becomes hero after leaping onto subway track to save fallen man in heart-stopping video

Alfred McNamee suffered a broken back, shattered knee and damage to his spleen after falling onto the tracks

Jack Simpson
Monday 20 April 2015 09:54 BST
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The man was saved by Collins on Wednesday morning
The man was saved by Collins on Wednesday morning (SEPTA)

A commuter in Philadelphia became a life saver last week when he fearlessly rescued an elderly man who had fallen from the platform and onto the tracks.

CCTV footage from Philadelphia’s 15 Street Station captured the incredible moment last Wednesday morning that saw 28-year-old Charles Collins risk his own safety to aid the fallen man, later identified as Alfred McNamee.

In the clip, McNamee is seen walking along the station’s busy platform when he loses his footing and stumbles from the platform and onto the tracks below.

McNamee suffered a number of injuries following the incident, including a broken back, a shattered knee, broken ribs, and a damaged spleen, while Collins is said to have sustained a leg injury.

Philadelphia’s transport department (SEPTA) praised Collins for his bravery but the 28-year-old man told reporters that “he was no hero” and just acted “instinctively” to the situation.

Despite the praise from SEPTA, the department did say that it would not advise commuters to copy Collins’ actions if the same situation presented itself in the future.

SEPTA Police Inspector Steve Harold said: “There’s procedures in place that we would like him to also alert the cashier right away, because that will stop trains from coming in. And alert the police officer, who was actually up by the cashier area.”

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