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Subway Hero Meets His D-Train Damsel In Distress


By

Jen Carlson

Published Feb 16, 2010

Modified Feb 16, 2010


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By

Jen Carlson

Published Feb 16, 2010

Modified Feb 16, 2010


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Who doesn't love a good subway hero story? The two real-life leading roles this time around are played by 18-year-old Rosie Rittenbery and 23-year-old Lance McGraw. Though the two had never seen each other before, even though they're practically neighbors, he saved her life last Thursday morning.

MyFoxNY reports that they were both standing on a subway platform when a Manhattan-bound D train was approaching and Rittenbery passed out onto the tracks. She recalls, "I looked at my friend and she said, 'Rosie you look really white,' and that's the last thing I remember. I had no memory of that, then I just somersaulted over and landed on my back on the tracks." Apparently her friend, nor anyone else on the platform, made a move to save her—and McGraw says, "I just thought, I have to do this before the train comes. I didn't realize how close the train was and it didn't occur to me that I had put myself in so much danger."

Fellow straphangers gasped when McGraw jumped down to pick up her limp body. He got her, and himself out of harm's way just in time, and the EMTs arrived to take it from there. One medic says, "He was fantastic, he saved her life." We sort of hope this dangerous meet-cute sparks a romance!

UPDATE: The subway hero's roommate has informed us that Fox got it wrong, it was the 8th Ave N train station that was the stage for this heroic scene. Also, he crushed our hearts by letting us know there is no romance, Ms. Rittenbery already has a boyfriend.

Tagged

brooklyn

d train

hero

Lance McGraw

rescued

Rosie Rittenbery

subway


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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