Woman pulled from edge of Toronto subway platform as TTC admonishes social media poster

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is reminding commuters to be aware of emergency power-off at both ends of subway platforms after video surfaced of a woman being pulled from the edge of track level as a train approached at Bloor-Yonge station.

TikTok user “Travelers On The Go” uploaded a video of the incident on social media, showing a woman balancing herself on the edge of the subway track. A man approaches to try and get her back to safety, but she shrugs him off.

“Move that way,” the concerned man is heard saying.

Two other commuters slowly approach the woman and try to talk her into moving away from the edge of the tracks. Another man is then shown forcefully pulling the woman away as the train arrives at the station.

The TikTok was uploaded on Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

The TTC said it was aware of the video but had no information to share regarding details.

“We would hope that people witnessing this would first and foremost use the emergency power cut located at both ends of every platform,” said TTC spokesperson Stuart Green. “They could do this themselves or call out for someone to do it.”

Green said that cutting the emergency power switch would stop the trains from entering the station and would prevent fatal electrocution if someone were to fall on the tracks.

“They could then either use the platform alarm to alert TTC staff or approach a member of our staff directly,” Green added.

“What people should NOT do is record videos of individuals in crisis in their most vulnerable state and post them to social media, causing them further distress and humiliation.”

On the TTC Safety Guide, instructions mention cutting off the power in the case of an emergency.

“For example, if a person has fallen to the tracks or someone is caught in the door of a car, and the train starts moving, you should cut the track power,” notes the TTC’s website.

“Go to the nearest Emergency Power Cut Cabinet. There is one at each end of every subway platform; it is marked by a blue light. The instructions on the panel will show you how to cut the power to the tracks in both directions.”