Man Leaps In Front Of Train To Save Another Life

A man leaped in front of an oncoming subway train to save the life of a stranger.

Adam May reports the quick-thinking hero talks exclusively about what was going through his mind when he jumped onto the tracks.

It was a death defying rescue caught on tape.  A man suffering from a seizure fell onto the tracks at a Washington, D.C. metro stop.

Retired U.S. Marine Dimas Pinzon jumped into the dangerous path and saved the man's life.

Many people were wondering what was going through the hero's mind at that moment of the rescue.

"The first thing going through my mind was getting him to safety," said Dimas Pinzon.  "I jumped down off the platform onto the tracks."

Pinzon had no idea when the next train would come through the Arlington stop.

Some questioned whether or not he ever had a moment of hesitation.

"Once I realized he was not responsive," said Dimas.  "I just said the hell with it.  I grabbed his arm, gave him a bear hug, and got his arms on the platform and two gentlemen up there helped get him to safety."

Pinzon knew what to do at the Metro stop, because back in the 1950's his father worked for the New York City Metro system and his father taught him how the subway works and the dangers down on the tracks.

"He used to take me down into the tunnels," he said. "He would tell me where to go, what to touch and what not to touch and said, don't ever touch the third rail."

It's an important lesson because that third rail carries 750 volts of deadly electricity.

After the incident he learned something new about himself.

"That I'm nuts," said Dimas.  "You start to think about would I do it again, I've been asked that question and you don't know what you're gonna do until you do it."

Dimas Pinzon hasn't yet spoken to the man he rescued, but the man has told others he's grateful. Metro officials praise Pinzon's heroic action, but recommend using emergency call boxes to notify station managers instead.