Escalator accident: Father-of-two dies as bystanders fail to help

A father-of-two has died following a horrific escalator incident at a Boston-area subway station, with newly released footage showing passersby failing to intervene as he struggled.

Steven McCluskey, 40, was travelling down an escalator at Davis Station in Somerville shortly before 5am on February 27 when he lost his footing near the bottom.

Surveillance video released by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) this week shows more than a dozen commuters walking past as McCluskey tried to free himself, without stopping to help. One man appears to watch briefly before turning away.

Mr McCluskey fell just before stepping off the escalator, with his coat becoming trapped in the machinery. As he fought to unzip the garment and pull free, the fabric became increasingly caught, tightening around his neck.

Moments later, he collapsed on the escalator, motionless.

It took more than 20 minutes for an MBTA employee to arrive and stop the escalator, according to the Boston Globe. Emergency crews were called shortly after, according to Boston Globe.

Police said the man was “pinned at the bottom of the escalator.”

He was found “unresponsive, bare-chested and his clothing was tightly lodged within the escalator steps,” according to the report.

“I immediately assessed McCluskey for a pulse and detected none,” the report said.

First responders administered Narcan and performed multiple rounds of CPR, eventually restoring his breathing.

McCluskey was taken to hospital, where he remained in a coma for 10 days before dying from his injuries on March 9.

His sister, Shannon Flaherty, said he had faced challenges in recent years but remained devoted to his loved ones.

“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 Boston.

According to his obituary, Mr McCluskey worked as a carpenter and was a dedicated father to his two sons, according to the Daily Mail.

“He loved creating things and took satisfaction in seeing a job through from start to finish,” it said. “Above all, he loved being a father to his two sons, Shayne and Steven, who meant the world to him.”

The MBTA described the incident as a “terrible accident” and urged the public to act in emergencies.

“It is important that the public knows that anyone can stop an escalator in an emergency by pressing the red button labeled ‘STOP’ at the top and bottom of each escalator,” the statement read.

“They should also then immediately call 911. MBTA personnel respond swiftly to all emergencies and do everything they can to assist individuals and secure the situation.”

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

Mr McCluskey’s family has called on transport authorities to accept responsibility.

“And be able to state that they failed him, rather than being able to say the MBTA did nothing wrong,” Shannon said. “That’s the main thing I don’t want.”