Good Samaritan makes daring attempt to rescue woman on subway tracks in the Bronx

WILLIAMSBRIDGE, Bronx (WABC) -- A woman made a daring rescue attempt in the Bronx, and was shocked by the electrified third rail when she tried to help another woman who fell off the platform.

It happened Tuesday morning at the Gunhill Road subway station.

"I just thought I have to help her there's no way she can help her self to get up," said the Good Samaritan, Victoria Owusu-Afriyie.

Owusu-Afriyie, a registered nurse, says it never occurred to her not to help when she saw a woman who had fallen onto the subway tracks.

"So I just took off my backpack and I jumped down on the track and I went to help her and when I went to help her, I touched and the electricity went through me," Owusu-Afriyie said. "When I came back to myself I realized I can't help this person."

Owusu Afriyie says she was forced back onto the platform because the victim was lying on the electrified third rail.

The woman can be seen in dramatic cellphone video.

It also shows a police officer and others on the platform waiting for the electricity to be turned off so they can hop down onto the tracks to help.

"People were calling 911, were saying prayers, people were doing what they could," said Owusu-Afriyie said.

Finally, the officer and two Good Samaritans, carefully avoiding the third rail, worked together to lift the unconscious woman back up onto the platform, where an officer reportedly performed CPR until EMT's arrived.

"Everybody did their part to help and I was just happy to be part of that effort," said Owusu-Afriyie.

The condition of the 48-year-old victim is not known.