Suicidal man jumps in front of a train holding 5-year-old daughter—but she's rescued by onlookers

In the midst of a tragedy at a Bronx subway station, bystanders jumped into action to save a 5-year-old girl who nearly lost her life when her father decided to take his own according to the New York Post.

 

Cell phone video records the moment when onlookers jumped down to the subway tracks to help the young girl get out from under the train after her father jumped in front of it while holding her in his arms.

The 45-year-old father had grabbed his daughter and jumped in front of an oncoming train as commuters looked on—but somehow, the little girl survived the incident with only minor apparent injuries.

The girl, who was obviously visibly distraught after the near-death experience and simultaneous loss of her father (who was pronounced dead at the scene) was transported to a nearby hospital and reunited with her mother.

"She got lucky," one police officer told the Post. "It's amazing that she's alive."

Witnesses were horrified by the entire ordeal, while also being in awe of the girl's miraculous survival.

"I watched as that train came around that corner and I saw as the man jumped and I see the little feet hanging out," said Jennifer Hub, who witnessed the scene. "My theory is that the little girl was under the train and small enough she could roll because she only has a few abrasions on her forehead and arm."

Hub said the tragedy "hurt me as a mother."

Two of the people who jumped down onto the tracks to save the girl suffered minor injuries, and were also taken to the hospital for treatment.

"This is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the family members as well as with our train operator—this is a traumatic event for everyone involved," an MTA spokesman said, according to WNBC-TV.