A 35-year old Conshohocken man attempted to commit suicide yesterday by slitting his wrists and neck after running into a subway tunnel in Philadelphia. The incident started when SEPTA’s Transit Police stopped the man after he was believed to have entered the waiting area without paying the fare. While the police were investigating he ran into the tunnel. The Nestel mentioned below is Transit Police Chief Thomas J. Nestel III.
From Philly.com:
While the officer was checking for outstanding warrants, the man jumped into the track area and ran west into the tunnel toward Eighth Street, Nestel said. The officer called for backup and once another officer arrived, they entered the tunnel in pursuit.
Soon after, the power was shut off in the immediate area to stop rail traffic.
The officers found the man in the tunnel and ordered him to surrender. In response, the man pulled out a knife and “sliced his wrists and stabbed himself in the neck,” Nestel said. One of the officers then fired a Taser at the man in an attempt to stop his efforts.
The man was saved by the police and firefighters who had to carry him more than 100 feet out of the tunnel. He is expected to recover. Read the entire account here.
Below are two tweets about the incident from Transit Police Chief Nestel:
In the past hour, I saw phenomenal heroism and teamwork to save a life. Man wanted to commit suicide at 8th St. He ran into the train tunnel with Transit Police chasing. He drew a knife, sliced his wrists and stabbed himself in the neck. Officers used tourniquets and 1/2 pic.twitter.com/6wiRZQmoN1
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) October 4, 2018
applied pressure to the serious neck wound. @PhillyFireDept arrived to continue medical treatment while he was carried more than 100 feet by police and firefighters. I’ve been doing this a long time. What I saw today was inspiring. Fabulous work! 2/2 pic.twitter.com/nBRvxaSjU2
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) October 4, 2018