FDNY Frees Toddler's Arm from Subway Doors

A 2-year-old boy was injured after his hand became stuck in the door of a J train at the Flushing Avenue and Broadway station in Brooklyn early on May 20, according to police and local news reports. FDNY firefighters and other first responders freed the child’s hand from the subway door after the incident, which happened around 1 a.m. at the station. Police said the boy was taken to a hospital and was expected to be OK. Video of the rescue later circulated in local media coverage. ### Where did the child’s hand get stuck? The Flushing Avenue and Broadway station on the J line was the site of the incident, according to police accounts cited by News 12 and other outlets. The station sits in Brooklyn, and reports identified the train involved as a J train. News 12 reported that the child’s hand was stuck in a train door. CBS New York said video on social media showed the incident at the Flushing Avenue station. ### When did it happen, and who responded? Police said the injury happened at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20. First responders removed the child’s hand from the door, News 12 reported. FDNY firefighters were identified in Patch’s account as helping free the 2-year-old after his arm became trapped in the subway doors. Other reports said first responders were able to remove the child’s hand before he was transported for treatment. ### How badly was the child hurt? Police said the boy was taken to an area hospital after the rescue. News 12 reported that the child was expected to be OK. Local reports did not identify the child by name, and authorities did not publicly describe the injury beyond saying his hand had become stuck and that he was recovering. No additional medical update was immediately available in the reports reviewed. ### What do the published videos show? CBS New York and Patch both referenced video of the incident. CBS New York said a video on social media showed the child’s arm stuck in the subway doors at the station. Patch’s item described FDNY helping free the 2-year-old after his arm got stuck in New York City subway doors. The available report excerpts did not include a longer statement from the fire department or the Metropolitan Transportation Authority about the mechanics of the rescue. ### What is still not publicly clear? The Metropolitan Transportation Authority was not quoted in the reports surfaced in this review, and the available accounts did not explain how the child’s hand became trapped. The published excerpts also did not say whether the train was in service, whether the family was boarding or exiting, or how long the child was pinned. Police accounts carried by local outlets were consistent on the key facts: the child was 2 years old, the incident happened on the J line at Flushing Avenue and Broadway around 1 a.m. on May 20, first responders freed him, and he was taken to a hospital. May 21 coverage from CBS New York and Patch provided the first widely shared video references after the rescue. Any fuller account of the incident would likely come from the NYPD, FDNY or the MTA if those agencies issue additional statements or release incident details.