3 passengers help woman found unresponsive on MARTA

ATLANTA — Three passengers on a MARTA train came to the rescue of a woman who was unresponsive.

David Hardy says he was riding a westbound train Tuesday afternoon when he noticed the woman slumped over in her seat.

He says it was an unusual sight. She had a note attached to her hand that read that she needed to get to the Arts Center. However, she wasn't responding to anyone.

One witness said other riders were busy taking photos and video.

"The people on the train were pushing her because they thought she was asleep and she wasn't," said Hardy.

Channel 2's Carl Willis rode the train route with Hardy and he demonstrated how when he nudged the woman, she almost fell out of her seat.

"All my training just kind of came into one at that moment," he said.

It just so happens that he's a lifeguard and a water safety instructor. He says he checked for a pulse and couldn't find one so, he checked her pupils.

"They were not dilating at all," he said. "Then she started to come to and then go back."

That's when he and two nurses, who also just happened to be on the same train, laid the woman on the floor, rendered aid, and called for help.

"It was no coincidence that all three of us were on the train at that same time, on the MARTA train, in the same compartment," said Hardy. "I think someone was really looking out for her."

MARTA police and paramedics from Grady Hospital arrived once the train stopped at the CNN Station. They took it from there. Witnesses say the woman was eventually revived and taken to the hospital.

"It almost makes me wonder if we didn't stop and if we were not on that train what would have happened to her," said Hardy.

WSBTV