A Boston man died after getting stuck in an escalator at a subway station, and surveillance footage showed multiple people walking past him without stopping. According to NBC 10, 40-year-old Steven McCluskey was on his way to the platform at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Davis Station.

The incident occurred in the early morning in February. McCluskey reached the bottom of the escalator and stumbled. He was stuck at the bottom of the escalator for almost half an hour. The surveillance footage showed many people walking by him who did not stop to help him.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Some people stopped briefly but walked away after being unable to free him. He fell at 4:58 a.m. and was stuck until 5:25 a.m. Eventually, another person stopped to help, but by that time, he was unresponsive.

The police notified the family about the accident and reported that McCluskey was in a coma. His family has been devastated after the incident and said his death was preventable. His sister said, “The fact that his death could have been prevented or avoided, and it wasn’t—I want to know why.”

His mother added, “He loved building things. He loved his children and loved being a dad. He did his best every single day to show up for the people that he loved in the ways that he could.” She told NBC 10, “If somebody took that minute, he would be here today.”

The father of two used to work as a carpenter and had a home improvement business. His family questioned why the security staff did not help him. McCluskey’s sister asked, “Where were the red coats (members of the Transit Ambassador)? They are supposed to be on all the floors from the time it opens to the time it closes. How, at a busy train station, does nobody stop, nobody sees him?”

Social media users reacted the same way as McCluskey’s family did. They were in disbelief that nobody helped him. One Instagram user commented, “Bro, I’m so tired of people and their lack of care for others. It’s disgusting.” Another user said how easy it could have been to help the man, “No words. Big red emergency STOP button and people just walked on by. Wow….may he rest in peace and they get justice.”

A third one posted, “Those people who walked right by him should be charged!” One more commented, “Disgusting how many people didn’t even try to help him.” “Damn, the first bro could’ve saved his life.” Many users said the situation was heartbreaking for the family. One wrote, “This is so incredibly heartbreaking. This man is a father and should’ve been saved. This is crazy sad.”

A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority spokesperson called it a terrible accident while reminding people to press the stop button in such emergencies. According to firefighters at the scene, McCluskey’s skin on the back was pulled by the escalator and his clothing was also stuck in the escalator, tightening around his throat.