Three New York trains run over Irish woman

By Julian Brouwer

AN IRISH woman who fell off a New York subway platform had three trains run over her, but suffered nothing more than a broken shoulder.

Mary Downey (22) - an Irish immigrant living in the Bronx - somehow avoided being crushed to death by the trains after accidentally falling on to the tracks at a midtown Manhattan subway station.

Authorities said Downey's amazing brush with death occurred at the 49th Street station near Seventh Avenue at around 6am when she was catching a train home.

As she was waiting on the platform, Downey stumbled over and fell on to the tracks, breaking her shoulder.

Unable to lift herself on to the platform, Downey managed to position herself between the rails as at least one of the trains thundered over her.

"She was lucky enough to have - it looks like to us - rolled to the platform and was in between the platform and the train when the train came in to the station," said New York Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Meyers.

Help

Downey continued to lie helplessly as another train drove over her.

A third train driver spotted her waving for help. The subway operator realised there was a person on the tracks and ground the train to a halt - but not before the train's third car passed over her.

Paramedics were called and removed her from under the train. She was brought to hospital for treatment before being released.

hnews@herald.ie