Wesley Autrey

Wesley Autrey lives in New York and is a construction worker and former Navy veteran. He has two daughters, Syshe and Shuqui. His parent’s names are Robert Autrey Sr. and Mary. He has an older brother and two younger sisters. They grew up on a small farm in Alabama, and soon after the birth of his youngest sister their father left them. After, their mother moved them to Harlem. When he was 17, Wesley joined the Navy and had his son, Wesley Jr.

Wesley Autrey after jumping onto the tracks to sa (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/nyregion/03life.html?_r=1)

Wesley Autrey made a difference when he saved a complete stranger’s life. On January 2, 2007, he was waiting for a train in Manhattan at around 12:45 when Cameron Hollopeter (20 at the time, and a student at the New York Film Academy) collapsed while having a seizure. Wesley Autrey used a pen to prevent him from choking on his tongue. The other people waiting on the platform helped him up and let him go a few minutes later since it seemed like he had recovered. Soon after, Cameron stumbled off the edge of the platform and fell onto the train tracks. He was lying partially in the drainage trough between the two rails, and was moving his arms and legs. Wesley Autrey saw a train coming and realized that Cameron Hollopeter’s movement might cause him to lose a limb or possibly get killed. He made a split-second decision and jumped down onto the track; moving Hollopeter into the drainage trough and lying on top of him to hold the disoriented man still. There was roughly 21 inches between the ground and the bottom of the train, and five train cars passed over their heads before it came to a halt. The cars were close enough that grease streaked his blue knit hat. People on the platform were screaming, so Autrey yelled up that they were both okay and that someone should tell his daughters that he was fine.

To me, a hero is brave, compassionate, humble, and intelligent. Wesley Autrey is all of these. Jumping in front of a train to save someone he had never met before that day is probably one of the best way to exhibit bravery and compassion. He was smart enough to not attempt to lift Cameron Hollopeter off of the tracks before the train pulled in, and to move them both into the drainage trough. He is also very humble. After saving Cameron’s life, he attempted to leave without even giving his name until he was stopped by the police on the scene.

Wesley Autrey getting an award for his heroic acti (http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/files/2010/06/autreywesley.jpg)

In recapitulation, this world has a multitude of ways to be considered a hero by others. In this day and age, a hero could be anyone from a fireman to an anti-drug public speaker. A hero is usually someone who others consider brave, smart, compassionate, courageous, or strong. Heroes can have a diverse selection of jobs. To me, Wesley Autrey, a construction worker in New York, is a hero.