Man Pushed Onto NYC Subway Tracks Recounts Harrowing Survival
A New York City man who was pushed onto subway tracks in an unprovoked attack on New Year’s Eve is speaking out about his terrifying ordeal and miraculous survival.
Joseph Lynskey, 45, was waiting for a train at the 18th Street subway station in Manhattan on the afternoon of December 31 when he was suddenly shoved onto the tracks. The attack, which occurred just moments before an approaching train, left him with severe injuries but miraculously alive.
“I just thought, ‘I’ve been pushed, and I’m going to die,'” Lynskey told Good Morning America. “It happened in a flash when I was midair. I knew that I had been pushed.”
Lynskey crashed onto the ground between the tracks, avoiding the deadly third rail that powers the subway system. “If you touch it at all, you will die immediately,” he said. “You cannot move. Don’t kick your feet. Don’t struggle. You will get electrocuted. You will die.”
Emergency responders arrived minutes later and carefully removed Lynskey from the tracks. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital with a fractured skull, four broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen. Despite the severity of his injuries, he remained conscious and had one primary concern upon rescue: his 16-year-old rescue dachshund, Leo.
“I know I’m really, really hurt, but you need to help me get to my dog,” he recalled telling firefighters.
Lynskey spent five days in intensive care, undergoing treatment for his injuries. He credited the medical staff at Bellevue for their outstanding care and expressed gratitude to the first responders who saved his life.
Suspect Arrested
Less than an hour after the attack, authorities arrested Kamel Hawkins, 23, of Brooklyn. He has been charged with attempted murder. According to the New York Police Department, Hawkins has nine prior arrests.
Despite the trauma of the attack, Lynskey said he refuses to dwell on anger or resentment. “I’m choosing not to focus on the negativity,” he said. “He’s 23. I don’t know much about him. I’m focusing on healing, recovering, and getting myself back to my life.”
Lynskey described his experience as a stark reminder of life’s fragility. “This can all be taken away from you at any moment,” he said. “Life is too short, and I’m going to keep going.”