This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/17/new-york-blind-man-guide-dog-subway
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blind man who fell on New York subway tracks: 'guide dog saved my life' | Blind man who fell on New York subway tracks: 'guide dog saved my life' |
| (1 day later) | |
| Gallant guide dog Orlando, a black Labrador retriever, bravely leapt on to the tracks at a Manhattan subway platform on Tuesday after his blind owner lost consciousness and tumbled in front of an oncoming train. | Gallant guide dog Orlando, a black Labrador retriever, bravely leapt on to the tracks at a Manhattan subway platform on Tuesday after his blind owner lost consciousness and tumbled in front of an oncoming train. |
| Cecil Williams, 61, and Orlando both escaped serious injury when the train passed over top of them – a miraculous end to a harrowing ordeal that began when Williams began to feel faint on his way to the dentist. | Cecil Williams, 61, and Orlando both escaped serious injury when the train passed over top of them – a miraculous end to a harrowing ordeal that began when Williams began to feel faint on his way to the dentist. |
| “He tried to hold me up,” an emotional Williams said from his hospital bed, his voice breaking at times. | “He tried to hold me up,” an emotional Williams said from his hospital bed, his voice breaking at times. |
| Witnesses said Orlando began barking frantically and tried to stop Williams from falling from the platform. Matthew Martin told the New York Post that Orlando jumped down and tried to rouse Williams even as a train approached. | Witnesses said Orlando began barking frantically and tried to stop Williams from falling from the platform. Matthew Martin told the New York Post that Orlando jumped down and tried to rouse Williams even as a train approached. |
| “He was kissing him, trying to get him to move,” Martin said. | “He was kissing him, trying to get him to move,” Martin said. |
| Witnesses called for help and the train’s operator slowed his approach as Williams and Orlando lay in the trench between the rails. | Witnesses called for help and the train’s operator slowed his approach as Williams and Orlando lay in the trench between the rails. |
| “The dog saved my life,” Williams said. | “The dog saved my life,” Williams said. |
| As Williams regained consciousness, he said he heard someone telling him to be still. Emergency workers put him on a stretcher and pulled him from the subway, and made sure Orlando was not badly injured. | As Williams regained consciousness, he said he heard someone telling him to be still. Emergency workers put him on a stretcher and pulled him from the subway, and made sure Orlando was not badly injured. |
| “I’m feeling amazed,” Williams said. “I feel that God, the powers that be, have something in store for me. They didn’t take me away this time. I’m here for a reason.” | “I’m feeling amazed,” Williams said. “I feel that God, the powers that be, have something in store for me. They didn’t take me away this time. I’m here for a reason.” |
| Williams was taken to a hospital where he is expected to recover, with Orlando at his bedside. Williams, a large bandage on his head, said he is not sure why he lost consciousness, but he is on insulin and other medications. | Williams was taken to a hospital where he is expected to recover, with Orlando at his bedside. Williams, a large bandage on his head, said he is not sure why he lost consciousness, but he is on insulin and other medications. |
| Orlando, described by Williams as serious but laid-back, was making new friends at the hospital. He will be rewarded with some kind of special treat, Williams said, along with plenty of affection and scratches behind the ears. | Orlando, described by Williams as serious but laid-back, was making new friends at the hospital. He will be rewarded with some kind of special treat, Williams said, along with plenty of affection and scratches behind the ears. |
| “[He] gets me around and saves my life on a daily basis,” Williams said. | “[He] gets me around and saves my life on a daily basis,” Williams said. |
| Williams, of Brooklyn, has been blind since 1995, and Orlando is his second dog. The lab will be 11 on 5 January, and will be retiring soon, Williams said. | |
| Williams had planned to look for a good home for Orlando as his health insurance would not cover the cost of a non-working dog, but on Wednesday he learned that Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a New York organisation that trained Orlando, had received enough donations for the two to stay together after Orlando retires. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |