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A commuter choked to death after his shirt got stuck in an escalator at a New York subway station.
On Sunday 14 October, Carlos Alvarez, from the Bronx, was found unconscious at the top of an escalator. Part of his shirt had got caught in the mechanism and he was choked by the other part, Pix11 reports.
Police went to the scene after receiving a report of an “emotionally disturbed person” at the station.
When they arrived, at 3.46am, they cut the man’s shirt loose but it was too late, Independent reports.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered a 48-year-old male unconscious and unresponsive on the top landing of the escalator,” the New York Police Department said in a statement.
“Emergency services arrived and transported the male to Lincoln Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death and the investigation is ongoing.”
Giovanni Fernandez, who witnessed the tragic accident, said people tried to help Alvarez.
“When I got off the train I saw the guy stuck on the escalator,” Fernandez said. “A lot of people were surrounding him.”
Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesperson Shams Tarek told the New York Post the incident was heartbreaking.
“This is a tragic and unusual incident which is under investigation,” Tarek said. “Our thoughts are with this man’s family and friends.”
Sources: Pix11, Independent, New York Post
