NEW YORK — An off-duty emergency medical technician and other bystanders helped rescue a man from a suspected overdose during a crowded New York City event on Thursday, officials and witnesses said, after the man was found unconscious above a subway station area in Lower Manhattan.
The incident happened during the New York Knicks championship parade, where large crowds gathered in the city, according to reports. Witnesses said the man appeared to lose consciousness near the World Trade Center subway station area. An off-duty EMT, identified as Simone Kelly, responded and administered naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, according to accounts from witnesses and media reports.
Video shared from the scene showed people climbing onto a structure to reach the man before medical help arrived. Peter Shrieve-Don, a person who recorded the incident, said he noticed the man in distress and moved toward him. He later credited Kelly with providing medical assistance after reaching the scene.
Kelly, who works as a volunteer EMT with the South Orange Rescue Squad in New Jersey, said she recognized signs that suggested a possible opioid overdose and used naloxone while assisting the man, according to an interview published after the incident. She said her response was based on her medical training and experience.
“I do not believe that addiction is a choice,” Kelly said in comments reported after the rescue, adding that she hoped the attention would encourage broader discussion about substance use and access to help.
Emergency responders later assisted in moving the man from the structure and provided additional care, according to witness accounts. The man’s identity was not publicly released, and details about his medical condition remained unclear.
New York City has continued to address overdose prevention efforts through emergency response programs and community services. The nonprofit OnPoint NYC operates overdose prevention centers in the city and provides services related to overdose response and harm reduction.
Officials have not released further details about the man’s condition or confirmed the substance involved. The rescue drew public attention after videos of the response circulated online, but authorities have not announced additional information about the circumstances leading to the medical emergency.
