Working on the railroad requires attention to detail and quick thinking. But as the roads blur by, sometimes the job can be a lot of standing around and watching as towns pass by.

Recently, one group of rail workers found their job suddenly becoming a life or death situation for one of their own, after they spotted something shocking on the rails ahead of their train: a young boy.

The workers from the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) were hailed as heroes after their quick actions saved the three-year-old boy who had wandered onto train tracks in Tarrytown, N.Y. The heart-stopping incident was captured on video, highlighting the bravery and compassion of these employees.

The dramatic events all started when Engineer William Kennedy, operating a southbound train that day, spotted the wandering toddler on the live track, perilously close to the electrified railing. In a video released by the MTA, a voice can be heard exclaiming,

There’s a little kid North of you, guys.” 

Realizing the imminent danger, Kennedy immediately hit the brakes and alerted his fellow team members.

As a father of four, Kennedy’s paternal instinct kicked in. He said, “I got four kids, so as soon as I saw it was a child, instantly ‘daddy’ kicked in, and I thought, ‘We gotta save this kid.'” 

Marcus Higgins holds onto a young boy who had wandered down by the train tracks. Photo from MTA video

Meanwhile, Assistant Conductor Marcus Higgins, heading in the opposite direction, also noticed the young boy and swiftly brought the train to a stop.

“I’m screaming and trying to wave in this direction, like, go the other way. But, you don’t know how young he was,” Higgins said, highlighting the urgency of the situation. It was later revealed that the boy, named Waylon, has autism and is non-verbal, which added to the complexity of the rescue.

Coincidentally, Waylon’s mother and sister had reported him missing to the Sleepy Hollow police officers while the incident was unfolding. The family had been at a park, when in a blink of an eye, the young boy had wandered away.

At the railway, Higgins ran down the tracks, getting to the child before he could get harmed. He brought the boy on to the stopped train, reuniting him with his grateful mother and sister after an agonizing hour of separation.

The rescued child was placed on a train car until his mother was able to reunite with him. Photo from the MTA

Overwhelmed with relief, Waylon’s mother, Aridia Bruno De Sosa, expressed her gratitude, stating, “That was a miracle from God.” She said she was immensely thankful that her son escaped unharmed, with only a splinter in his hand. Higgins, acknowledging the potential dire outcome, said –

God forbid, you know, this could have gone in a totally different direction.”

Kennedy emphasized the perilous nature of the situation, as the electrified third rail carried a deadly 600 volts. He explained, “It would have been a totally different story. He would have hurt himself really badly if he touched it.” The timing of the rescue was critical, with Kennedy noting, “Had we left a minute earlier or later, the outcome would have been different.”

The heroic actions of these rail workers did not go unnoticed, as the Metropolitan Authority honored them in a ceremony. Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi commended the team members for embodying the qualities they seek in their employees: alertness, responsiveness, knowledge, and helpfulness.

Engineer William Kennedy talks to reporters. Photo from WABC

“These fine team members embodied the qualities we want our employees to exhibit while on duty: alert, responsive, knowledgeable, and helpful,” she said. 

The heart-pounding incident captured on video serves as a powerful reminder of the potential dangers that exist near train tracks, as well as the importance of vigilance. 

Thanks to the swift and selfless actions of these rail workers, Waylon’s life was saved and his family was able to go home after such a scary event, safe and sound.

Watch the quick-thinking rail employees rush to save the young boy below.

Sources: My Positive Outlooks | Good Morning America