NEW YORK CITY — It was a regular commute home. Until it wasn’t.
A 44-year-old Filipino emergency room pediatrician was violently attacked and shoved onto the subway tracks in Manhattan last August 9 — in a shocking, unprovoked assault that could’ve ended in tragedy.
The doctor, who had just finished his hospital shift, was waiting for the No. 1 train at the 50th Street station when a man suddenly punched him and pushed him onto the tracks, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
At that terrifying moment, the next train was just four minutes away.
Thankfully, brave bystanders rushed to the scene and helped pull him back onto the platform, narrowly saving his life.
The NYPD has since released surveillance footage of the incident and is now searching for the attacker, who was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts, a backwards cap, and carrying a backpack.
The doctor suffered head and foot injuries and was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital. While he has chosen to stay out of the public eye, a close friend, Takayuki Matsumoto, told the New York Post that he is now in stable condition — and simply grateful to be alive.
“He’s happy he’s still alive,” Matsumoto shared.
The victim, a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, currently serves as a dedicated pediatric ER doctor in the city.
The Philippine Consulate General in New York has expressed concern and is reaching out to offer support to the doctor and his family.
As for the suspect, the NYPD Crime Stoppers is urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. They hope the public can help bring justice — and prevent future attacks like this from happening.
