After saving a young girl's life, two courageous Bronx men were presented with Citations of Merit for their quick thinking and heroism.
Jairo Torres and Antonyo Love were praised for their heroics early Wednesday morning for jumping into action and saving a young girl stuck on the tracks.
According to Pix 11, 45-year-old Fernando Balbuena-Flores jumped in front of the oncoming Manhattan-bound No. 4 train at the Kingsbridge Road station sometime around 8 a.m. He took his 5-year-old daughter, Ferni Balbuena-Flores, along with him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
When the train came to a halt, Torres got down from the platform and came to the girl's rescue.
"In my heart, I feel the baby is still alive," Torres recalled.
The child saw her father die on the tracks. She asked Torres what happened, but the shock of the incident left him speechless.
Love heard screaming as he came up the stairs of the station. So, without a moment's hesitation, he began assisting Torres and the child.
“Just listening to their version, I am full of fear. I am full of grief and pain,” Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr said.
CHILD SAVED: Video shows good Samaritans come to the rescue of a little girl after her father jumped in front of an oncoming train while holding onto her. Miraculously she is OK and only suffered minor injuries. https://t.co/pGUMgPJTk5
pic.twitter.com/EmRvu7oLQq— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) September 23, 2019
Despite both of the men being the heroes they are, Love wants Torres to receive the bulk of the credit.
“I owe it all to him. He’s the hero," Love said.
During the incident, Love's bag containing valuable medication was stolen. Diaz is calling for citizens to return the meds at once.
“It is the true meaning of being a hero. They’re not asking for this attention. They’re not asking for the spotlight,” Diaz added.