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发帖数: 7881 | 1 A brave seeing-eye dog loyally leaped to the subway tracks when his owner
tumbled off a Harlem platform Wednesday — and they both survived getting
run over by a train, according to witnesses.
Cecil Williams, 60, was heading to the dentist when he felt faint about 9:30
a.m. on the uptown A train platform.
His guide dog, a black labrador named Orlando, was trained to keep him from
going over the edge — and tried to hold him up. The dog was barking and
trying to pull him , but Williams fell, according to witnesses.
Matthew Martin, 54, said that the dog never hesitated.
Modal Trigger
Police with Cecil Williams’ seeing-eye dog, Orlando, outside the subway
station.
Photo: Robert Miller
“He went down, and the dog jumped down,” he said. “He wasn’t pulled. He
was kissing him, trying to get him to move.”
Straphangers shouted, alerting subway workers. A construction flagger told
Williams to stay in the trough between the rails, authorities said.
Witnesses said they heard an express train approaching less than a minute
after Williams plunged to the tracks, and tried to alert the motorman.
During the commotion, Orlando stayed by William’s side.
“He was definitely this man’s best friend. When the train was coming, the
dog didn’t move,” said Ana Quinones, 53, of Morningside Heights. “The dog
was loyal to his master. He tried to save him. He was trying to pull him
away when he was too close to the edge. He risked his own life to save his
owner.”
Authorities said the train operator slammed on his brake, but one and a half
cars passed over Williams and Orlando.
Transit officers first pulled out the pooch, and firefighters rescued
Williams using a backboard and neck brace.
The two were in a trough in the middle of the tracks , said Captain Daniel O
’Sullivan from FDNY Engine 37.
Williams cut his head, but was not badly hurt, and Orlando was unscathed. He
was treated at St. Luke’s Hospital.
“The dog saved my life,” Williams told the Associated Press from his
hospital bed, his voice breaking. “I’m feeling amazed. I feel that God,
the powers that be, having something in store from me. They didn’t take me
away this time. I’m here for a reason.”
He said he will give Orlando a special treat, as well as affection and
scratches behind his ear. He added that the seeing eye dog will retire soon,
and he has to find a new home for him since insurance won’t cover a non-
working dog.
His girlfriend Cynthia told the Post while walking Orlando near St. Luke’s
that she was very grateful. “It is a miracle,” she said. “I’m very
grateful to God.”
Former neighbor Peter Ayala, 38, said Williams has always depended on
Orlando. “He was always with his dog, he really depended on his dog,” he
said. “Holy God. I’m so happy that’s he okay. He could have been ripped
to shreds on those tracks!”
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Firefighters load Williams the blind man who fell onto the subway tracks
into an ambulance.
Photo: Robert Miller
Williams said he wasn’t sure why he fainted, but he does take insulin and
other medications. He became blind about ten years ago from meningitis while
he was working at a Brooklyn warehouse doing physical work.
“He was a real handyman,” said beverage importer Rachael Israeli, 62. “He
could fix anything. He was strong as an ox, but he was also pleasant to be
around. He never complained. He was just the sweetest guy.”
One week, Williams said he wasn’t feeling well and took off from work. “It
turned out that he had contracted meningitis and became blind soon after
that,” she said. “He had to stop working for us. It was heartbreaking to
see a man who was so fit become blind. It was devastating.”
Israeli said her family has prayed for his health for the past ten years,
and were sad to hear he had fallen this morning. “Thank God he had that big
dog to look after him,” she said. | b**********5
发帖数: 7881 | 2 the dog needs a home!! and his face need to be washed too!!! anybody see the
long tear trails on his face??!! who's taking care of the dog!!!
i am telling u, dogs are soooo much better than shitty peoples! | m*******y
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