Daring Rescue of Unconscious Person Found on Metro North Tracks

Trains were halted Thursday and the electrified third rail was disabled at Metro North's Croton-Harmon station after it was reported to authorities that an unconscious person was laying on the tracks.

The quick response of emergency workers, as well as the fast-acting crew at Metro-North, narrowly avoided disaster in Dutchess County, NY. Unfortunately, rescue from the tracks was only the beginning of an ordeal that shines a spotlight on the heroic efforts of our local first responders.

Unconscious Person Found on Metro-North Tracks

"Around 2:45 PM on Thursday, the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department, Croton EMS, Croton Police, Ossining EMS Paramedics and MTA Police responded to the Croton-Harmon Train Station for a person unconscious laying on the train tracks", reported the Croton-on-Harmon Fire Department (CHFD):

Metro-North stopped rail traffic and disconnected power to the high voltage Third Rail to enable rescuers to access the patient. Everyone worked together and placed the patient in a Stokes Basket (designed for moving injured patients from below grade or at higher elevations) minutes after arriving on location

High-Stakes Rescue in Croton-on-Harmon, NY

Though stakes were already high, the CHFD reports that after the patient was rescued from the tracks, they suffered another medical emergency: cardiac arrest. EMS and fire crews quickly got to work.

Read More - Photos: Rescue After Train Catches Fire in Croton

Happy Ending After Scary Medical Emergency in Croton-on-Harmon, NY

After CPR and "other life saving measures", the CHFD reports that the patient is now "awake and recovering from their medical emergency" in a local hospital. It was a scary situation that first responders and Hudson Valley, NY residents alike knew could have ended much differently.

Get our free mobile app

"I am relieved to read that Metro-North is able to assist locking down train traffic and disabling power to the electrified third rail to allow for safe and quick intervention is such a case. Sadly it seemed not possible for a similar event I witnessed 17 years ago", commented one local man. Watch another high-stakes local rescue below.