The New York City “subway hero”, who last week saved a young man from a onrushing train, won’t have to take the underground much longer.

On the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” which aired on Jan. 10, Wesley Autrey was given a 2007 Jeep Patriot in honor of his daring deed.

If you didn’t hear, Autrey, a construction worker who lives in New York City, was standing on the subway platform with his two young daughters when he noticed a young man who had fallen on the train tracks and was having a seizure. Disregarding an approaching subway, Autrey leapt down to help the young man. Autrey rolled him into a drainage area between the tracks and pressed the young man to the ground just as a train passed inches overhead.

On her show, Ellen read a letter written by Chrysler Group Chief Executive Tom LaSorda: “When I heard of your heroic and unselfish act to help a fellow American in need without any regard to your own safety, I personally felt it would be an honor on behalf of myself and Chrysler Group to honor you and your family with a brand new 2007 Jeep Patriot – a vehicle appropriate for a man like yourself."

Autrey and his two daughters then jumped into the Patriot. “The Jeep Patriot is the top-rated SUV,” Ellen said. “It’s compact, which is good for the city. And also, it handles great, gets excellent mileage. You’re going to love it. And Chrysler’s going to pay for a full year of parking in the city, which is a really cool thing."

“If anything goes on in subways, somebody else is going to have to help people, because you’re done with subways for awhile,” Ellen said.

Photo courtesy of DaimlerChrysler