Top > World > 2007 > January > 2007-01-30

Subway Superman Receives Major Perks

New York is going out of its way to honor its "subway Superman", a 50-year-old construction worker, who saved a film student from being run over by a subway. Wesley Autrey became a city hero, after he spotted a student who has fallen on the tracks in the subway`s Harlem station due to convulsions. Autrey, who noticed the station bound train, didn`t think twice, he jumped down into the tracks and onto the student, laying on him as the train passed over the two. They were both lightly injured, but they both remain alive.

Passer byers, who viewed the incident, told the press what has happened, and the city subsequently fell in love with its newest hero. Autrey tried to downplay his act of bravery saying he only helped a person in need. He was in the right place at the right time, he said. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg awarded Autrey with a bronze medal, given for outstanding civic duty, and called Autrey a "true hero." The city subway system granted him with free services for the next year, and the billionaire Donald Trump gave him a check for ten thousand dollars. Autrey also received two other checks from anonymous donors, for undisclosed sums.

The Walt Disney Company decided to give Autrey and his two daughters aged 4 and 6 a seven day vacation at their Florida theme park, as well as, tickets to the musical the Lion King. Autrey was also invited to appear on the Tonight Show with David Letterman. During the interview at the show he said that saving a man`s life is the best way to kick off a year.