A man experienced a harrowing incident on New Year’s Eve when he was pushed onto subway tracks just as a train approached in New York City. He is expected to make a full recovery, according to his family, while the individual accused of the attack remains in custody without bail on charges of attempted murder and assault.
On Tuesday afternoon, Joseph Lynskey, 45, was waiting on the platform at the West 18th Street subway station in Manhattan’s Chelsea area when an assailant pushed him onto the tracks. This act has been described by police as a random act of violence.
Lynskey’s condition has improved from critical to stable, as reported by authorities. He sustained serious injuries, including a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, his sister, Jennifer Lynskey, shared that her brother miraculously survived the brutal attack but faces numerous injuries and remains hospitalized in New York. “Anyone who’s ever met Joe knows he’s one of the kindest, most thoughtful, and caring humans out there,” she wrote, emphasizing the long recovery journey he has ahead, both physically and emotionally.
To assist with his medical expenses and other financial needs, she asked for donations to a GoFundMe page that had already raised over $70,000 by Thursday afternoon.
Lynskey, who did not respond to calls or emails on Thursday, is the head of content and music programming for Gray V, a New York-based company specializing in soundtracks and playlists. He was raised in Miami and is known in the DJ community as Joe Usher.
According to police reports, surveillance footage captured the moment the suspect pushed Lynskey onto the tracks, resulting in him being struck by the train. The video shows him distracted by his phone just before being pushed by a man in a black jacket, who then fled the scene after the incident.
Social media videos later depicted firefighters rescuing Lynskey from the tracks, navigating a gap between subway cars. Authorities have not disclosed how Lynskey managed to survive the impact, as being struck by a train is typically fatal. However, safety experts suggest strategies for those who fall onto the tracks, including lying in the space between the rails at certain stations.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Kamel Hawkins, was apprehended on the same day as the incident. A judge in Manhattan has denied him bail, and he is scheduled to appear in court next Monday. Hawkins faces additional charges in Brooklyn for prior incidents, including allegations of assaulting a woman by throwing bleach at her.
Hawkins’ attorney did not respond immediately to requests for a comment on the subway incident, while his Brooklyn defense attorney also remained silent on the matter.
Hawkins’ father expressed his disbelief regarding the allegations against his son. Although he acknowledged some past legal troubles, he never expected his son would be involved in such a violent act. He also mentioned that he had been trying to find help for Hawkins, who appeared to be struggling with mental health issues in the weeks leading up to the incident.
The fear of being pushed onto subway tracks is a persistent worry for many New Yorkers. Incidents like this are rare against the backdrop of millions of subway rides daily, although a similar push in March resulted in a fatality in East Harlem.
Generally, personal safety in the New York subway system mirrors the overall safety of the city. However, alarming incidents such as stabbings and assaults cast a shadow over the subway experience, which serves over 1 billion riders each year. Police statistics indicate that while major crimes on subways have decreased through November compared to the previous year, there has been an increase in homicides, rising from five to nine.
