Union electrical foreman Pooran Mohabir, 33, was honored Monday by state Sen. Joseph Addabbo — who represents parts of South Ozone Park, near where Mohabir lives — one week after the harrowing rescue at the Hunter College 6 train station on Sept. 12.
Mohabir detailed to Addabbo the harrowing moment he dropped onto his belly to grab Trevor Crawford, 74, from the track bed.
“The train was four minutes away,” Mohabir said. “He was scared. He was bleeding all over.”
Mohabir added, “I would do it again.”
Mohabir was joined by his wife and representatives from his work and union for the citation awared at Addabbo’s Queens office.
Addabbo said Mohabir not only saved a man’s life, but he inspired all the people who saw his courage and felt safer in the transit system.
“Pooran Mohabir is a hero, a truly selfless individual who ran towards danger, motivated by instinct and protected by the training he received as part of his job,” Addabbo said. “He didn’t just save one life, but he affected so many around him by his actions – the victim’s family, the train conductor who could have hit the victim, any straphangers who might become fearful to ride a train again, and his own family, because he could have perished while saving Mr. Crawford.”
“It is only fitting that I honor Pooran today because it takes a very special person, a person whom we all hope would be around if we were ever in that situation,” Addabbo said. “He is a role model for every citizen who has ever wondered whether he or she should get involved in helping someone or turn away.”
Mohabir was working inside the 68th Street – Hunter College subway station just after midnight when he discovered Crawford lying on the track bed after being shoved onto the tracks.
He didn’t have to think twice about saving the grandfather, whose head rested just inches from the deadly electrified third-rail.
“I saw a man in need, and no one else nearby to help him,” Mohabir said at the time. “There wasn’t a second thought in my mind that I needed to help this man.”
Crawford suffered multiple fractures to his spine, broken ribs, a fracture to the left side of his pelvis, pain and substantial cuts and brushing, prosecutors said.
Mohabir said Crawford didn’t want to go to the hospital, but “the cops got him to go.”
Accused subway pusher, Derrick Mills was held on a $100,000 bail, set by a Manhattan criminal court judge, and is due back in court on Wednesday.
According to the prosecutor’s complaint, Mills identified himself in video surveillance footage and told investigators that he “pushed him and he fell back.”