A 66-year-old former New York Metropolis development employee and Navy veteran who vaulted to worldwide acclaim in 2007 for saving a movie pupil’s life after he fell onto subway tracks in Manhattan following a seizure received an surprising — and little doubt, very welcome — pre-holiday shock Thursday virtually 15 years to the day of his heroic act.
The Publishers Clearing Home Prize Patrol, well-known for astonishing sweepstakes winners at their properties, work or different places with enormous checks and extra, introduced Wesley Autrey as its newest random prizewinner, stunning him with roses, balloons, champagne and a brand new Ford Bronco (or its money worth — $52,820).
“This is a dream come true!” Autrey exclaimed after studying he received the prize.
Autrey, who PCH mentioned retired simply three months in the past however nonetheless works part-time, ended up taking the money possibility in an effort to assist his daughters and mom.
The group despatched Howie to Autrey’s Harlem house, which is not removed from the transit hub the place his selflessness made him a world family identify and a neighborhood legend.
Because the lore goes, Autrey was ready for a prepare at 137th Avenue round lunchtime on Jan. 2, 2007, along with his two younger daughters when he noticed one other subway rider, Cameron Hollopeter, having a seizure on the platform. He and two different bystanders raced to assist the then-20-year-old movie pupil. Hollopeter ended up stumbling off the platform.
He fell proper onto the tracks — and a prepare was approaching.
Autrey jumped onto the tracks and, realizing there wasn’t sufficient time to tug the New York Movie Academy pupil off earlier than the prepare hit them each, he put himself over Hollopeter, who was in a trench between the tracks and held him down. 5 vehicles rolled over each of them earlier than the prepare stopped. Folks have been screaming.
“We’re OK down here,” Autrey yelled, according to The New York Times. “But I’ve got two daughters up there. Let them know their father’s OK.”
That was met with resounding applause — and complete awe.
Getty Photographs Subway hero Wesley Autrey two years after he saved Cameron Hollopeter life by leaping onto the subway tracks to avoid wasting a complete stranger. (Photograph By: Ron Antonelli/NY Every day Information through Getty Photographs)
Hollopeter suffered some bumps and bruises, however that was about it. Autrey declined medical consideration on the scene. Then, the Instances experiences, he received his women house and went to go to Hollopeter within the hospital earlier than beginning his night time shift.
“I don’t feel like I did something spectacular,” Autrey instructed the paper the following day. “I just saw someone who needed help. I did what I felt was right.”
The Navy vet’s inspirational and humble story received out — broadly — and he was flooded with scholarship cash for his women in addition to money, amongst different presents, and earned a moniker that has adopted him since: “Hero of Harlem.”
Occasions tickets, backstage Beyonce passes, Nets (then in New Jersey) video games, a brand new Jeep and a visit to Walt Disney World Resort adopted. Autrey additionally earned a bronze medallion, New York Metropolis’s highest award for distinctive citizenship and excellent achievement, from former Mayor Michael Bloomberg two days after the heroic enterprise.
Former President George W. Bush honored him and his daughters as company on the State of the Union that yr, too.