Meet Veeramuthu Kalimuthu, a Columbia University mechanic with the courage and electrical knowledge to jump over several 600-volt subway rails to save a reportedly intoxicated man who fell onto the tracks on the other side of the station. The guy was immobile and significantly heavier than Kalimuthu, but with some help he was lifted up to safety with about a minute to spare before the next train came along. Kalimuthu is also kind of an insane family man: he jumped back over the various rails to catch his next train home to his wife and kids. The story already made Drudge, so Kalimuthu will probably be a national hero by morning. Video clip excerpted from WCBS' coverage after the jump.

9:12 PM on Thu Mar 20 2008
By Ryan Tate
2,564 views
26 comments

Comments

slakboy at 09:17 PM on 03/20/08
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Dave Drunkard's a good guy. And worth jumping three tracks to get to.
VoxPopuli at 09:20 PM on 03/20/08
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@slakboy: Nah, Dave owes me money. Fucker can roll out of the way himself.
Ozyman666 at 09:21 PM on 03/20/08
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Dave's not here.
slackerina at 09:22 PM on 03/20/08
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Dave just missed his chance at winning a Darwin award, I guess.
Ryan Tate at 09:24 PM on 03/20/08
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@slakboy: I am so ON tonight... Sigh.
AirforceAmy at 09:24 PM on 03/20/08
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LOST is freaking me out.
VoxPopuli at 09:25 PM on 03/20/08
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Seriously, great story though - I'm not sure what I would do and I'm always amazed at people who jump down to the tracks to save people.

But maybe he could have just paid the $2 to switch back to the other platform rather than jumping back over the tracks? Or switched trains at 125 or 103 depending on which way he was headed...
Phyllis Nefler at 09:34 PM on 03/20/08
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Showoff.
In Other News... at 09:36 PM on 03/20/08
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@VoxPopuli: He knows the MTA would never allowed him a free pass despite HERO status.
In Other News... at 09:36 PM on 03/20/08
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@Phyllis Nefler: Jealous.
rosaluxembourgeoise at 09:50 PM on 03/20/08
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Judging from the proudly worn Local 241 Transport Workers Union cap, he would cross several subway rails before he crossed a picket line. Pretty damn brave.
MrInBetween at 10:03 PM on 03/20/08
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Why hasn't NY1 crowned him Prince of the City yet?
fileunder at 10:25 PM on 03/20/08
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Veeramuthu Wesley Autry Kalimuthu!
mikedell at 11:27 PM on 03/20/08
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He also avoided discussing social security.
notsofresh at 11:54 PM on 03/20/08
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"It's not the voltage that kills ya, see... It's the amps!" My God, I've become my father.
ellagood at 12:48 AM on 03/21/08
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pfft...what kind of drunk can't jump over a few rails of his own?
TimeWarnerRhymeAnaheim at 01:20 AM on 03/21/08
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Out with it... admit... you Wouldn't be telling this story if there had not been a full moon tonight. Well I thought --
In Other News... at 01:53 AM on 03/21/08
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@TimeWarnerRhymeAnaheim: Did that stupid beer company stunt work? The one where they projected their logo onto the moon using lasers or some shite?
vulturesquadron at 02:08 AM on 03/21/08
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Muthu muthu muthu!
In Other News... at 02:23 AM on 03/21/08
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@MrInBetween: Producers already on it.
vulturesquadron at 02:36 AM on 03/21/08
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Also, if the third rail was like 5' 11'' high, I might be impressed.

Also, when are we going to draw the line between heroism and thick-headed sentimentality around here?!
In Other News... at 08:16 AM on 03/21/08
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@vulturesquadron: You are being completely serious, aren't you? Sigh.
BK_KT at 10:32 AM on 03/21/08
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Screw the heroic mechanic, I'm more interested in witness Ed, ROWR!
lalalina at 11:16 AM on 03/21/08
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@vulturesquadron: It's the rats I'm most afraid of.
SoftBeadySuedeShoes at 12:05 PM on 03/21/08
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My first week living in NYC, after going out with my new roomate, I saw a guy do a header onto the tracks on the other platform! No way was I going to cross 3 sets of electric rails, so I did the only thing I could do, take pictures with my cell phone while my roomie screamed.

Two guys ran over and saved him right before a train came in. HA!
schmerd at 12:08 PM on 03/21/08
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@In Other News...: @VoxPopuli: Especially since you can cross over upstairs (without exiting) at that stop. Maybe he was just full of adrenaline.