‘Human thing to do:’ transit rider who jumped on subway tracks to save fallen man

TORONTO — A Toronto transit rider heralded as a hero after rescuing a man who fell onto the subway tracks said he couldn’t have done it without the help of two strangers who jumped in with him.

Kyle Busquine said he’s surprised to have received so much media attention since the Thursday afternoon incident, saying his actions were “just a very basic and a compassionate, human thing to do.”

“I just thought it was going to be brushed under the rug, but it was really crazy to wake up the next day and see that I was trending social media — it’s nuts,” Busquine said in an interview.

The 24-year-old lanscaper said he was on his way home from work on Thursday afternoon when he heard a faint scream from the subway tracks. Busquine said he didn’t stop to think and he jumped in to help as “adrenaline took over.”

The man who had fallen into the tracks was blind, Busquine said, and it appeared he had injured his leg.

Two others jumped down to help him, he said, and Busquine said he still doesn’t know who they are.

Busquine said he’s not sure if the others want to be publicly named, but if he manages to find out who they are, he’d like to get in contact with them.

“I’m super thankful they came down in after me because I would not have been able to do what I did by myself.”

Julie Caniglia, who witnessed the events, took a photo of the three rescuers and posted it on social media.

“It was amazing. We all need a bit of positive reinforcement that there’s some great people out there,” she said Friday.

Though he was under the impression that the incident wouldn’t get much attention, Busquine said he’s glad to be a part of a positive story in the news.

“I’m happy this story resonates with so many people.”

Alanna Rizza and Olivia Bowden, The Canadian Press