‘I’m not going to keep strolling:’ CTA train rider jumped down to help man who fell onto third rail and got shocked

CHICAGO (CBS) — A CTA train rider did not suppose twice about leaping onto the tracks to save a man being shocked on the third rail.

As CBS 2’s Jermont Terry reported Tuesday evening, the Good Samaritan wasn’t simply going to watch the man die. He mentioned he had to help him – even when it meant risking his personal life.

To say Tony Perry walks by his religion could also be an understatement.

“It’s about being selfless and spreading love,” Perry mentioned.

This week, as Perry exited the Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train on the 69th Street station alongside the Dan Ryan Expressway, he noticed hassle.

“I immediately noticed there was a fight,” he mentioned, “because both guys got their dukes up – they were like putting their stuff down.”

Viral cellphone video reveals the struggle between two males after it spilled down onto the tracks in entrance of the stopped ‘L’ train on Sunday afternoon.

Police mentioned one of many males was on the platform ready for a train, when the opposite got here up and spat on him and began a struggle – punching him within the mouth.

During the struggle, each males fell onto the tracks – the place they saved combating, police mentioned.

The first man was burned on his left leg and suffered abrasions to his mouth, and was hospitalized in good situation. But the man who police say began the struggle ended up on the third rail – which despatched 600 volts of electrical shocks via him.

“The guy didn’t have no control over his body,” Perry mentioned.

While everybody screamed for help and recorded, Perry jumped onto the lively tracks.

“I did hear somebody say as I got on the track, ‘Don’t touch him!'”

But keep in mind Perry’s religion. He says it saved him from watching from the platform.

“I could’ve kept walking, but I was like, you know what? I’m not going to keep walking – because God wouldn’t want me to do that,” he mentioned, “so I took action immediately.”

And along with his personal life at risk, Perry tried eradicating the man from the damaging third rail.

“I’m a high knee over and I just know: ‘Don’t touch the rail! Don’t touch the rail!'” he mentioned. “Otherwise, I’ll get shocked too.”

Perry remembers getting a jolt when he touched the man.

“It was strong – like it went through my whole body,” Perry mentioned. “I remember after that, my whole body was still kind of shaky.”

Terry requested Perry what goes via his thoughts upon reflecting on his actions.

“I was kind of like, dang – I did that? That was me? I was kind of surprised that I would take myself to that level,” Perry mentioned. “But I’m kind of not surprised, because I’m always helping people. That’s my instinct.”

The 20-year-old believes God positioned him on the Red Line at that second.

“I was thinking about, if that was me in that situation, how would I want people to treat me?” Perry mentioned. “I’m just happy that the guy was alive, more than anything. I didn’t see myself as a hero, to be honest.”

It was a really severe scenario – even for Perry, who needed to help. Those 600 volts on the third rail might be lethal.

The man who suffered the extreme electrical shock on the third rail was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. Police mentioned he remained in severe situation Tuesday evening.