In a remarkable turn of events during what was billed as the largest ticker tape parade in New York City’s history, dedicated Knicks fans demonstrated extraordinary bravery. As millions thronged lower Manhattan, a few spectators found themselves in a real-life drama, stepping up to save a fellow reveler from a suspected drug overdose. Captured in dramatic footage, this heroic act unfolded near the World Trade Center Subway station.
Among the heroes were Simone Kelly, an off-duty EMT hailing from New Jersey, and Peter Shrieve-Don. Their quick response and decisive action, including the administration of Narcan, proved crucial in reviving the distressed individual. The man’s perilous position above the subway station added a layer of urgency to the already tense situation.
Shrieve-Don, who had been capturing the Knicks’ historic championship parade on video, noticed the man lose consciousness. Acting swiftly, he alerted a nearby NYPD officer, as shown in a video he later shared on Instagram.
“I went up because the guy went out hard, no one was doing anything, and there wasn’t time,” Shrieve-Don explained in his post, underscoring the urgency of the moment.
Despite his warnings that the man was “passed out in his vomit,” officers did not initially respond. This prompted Shrieve-Don, fueled by a sense of duty and urgency, to climb up the structure himself to aid the man in distress.
“They’re gonna tell you to get off,” one woman told Shrieve-Don.
“Well then, he’s going to die,” he responded. “Damn, we’re really following the rules out here.”
Shrieve-Don defied the officer’s order to stop climbing the structure and found the individual passed out with his head slumped backwards, nearly completely upside down.
The heroic Knicks fan began shaking the man, telling him to “get up, bro,” as thousands of people below watched intensely.
“Once I did get to him, it was clear that it was serious enough to require someone who knew more than me – Simmy Kelly, you are a hero and you forever have my gratitude,” Shrieve-Don wrote.
Kelly and a small group of fans managed to climb up the glass structure to render aid to the man.
Kelly, who is stationed with the South Orange Rescue Squad, had made it through the crowd and on to the platform, where she said she was “medical” and took control of the intense scene.
Kelly administered a dose of Narcan spray into the man’s nose before giving him sternum rubs, according to the footage captured by Shrieve-Don.
The man gained consciousness after the hit of the life-saving spray and attempted to embrace and kiss Kelly multiple times as she asked him what he had taken.
Several more people had climbed up the structure and helped carry the man down to the awaiting FDNY paramedics.
The man was strapped to a stretcher and rolled away from the scene. His condition was not immediately known.
The Post has reached out to the FDNY.
Shrieve-Don praised Kelly as a “hero” following the terrifying ordeal.
“Sometimes, if you see something, DO something,” Shrieve-Don said. “I’m glad there were people who knew what they were doing (not me). I do love this city. Knicks in 5.”
Kelly reposted multiple angles of her daring rescue to her Instagram profile and is hoping her viral fame helps her get into medical school.
“Instagram engagement is great but who can get my name to medical school admission committees,” Kelly wrote in a post after her rescue went viral.