logo
Long Island man pulled from burning BMW, another called dead on site, thank their rescuers for the first time

Long Island man pulled from burning BMW, another called dead on site, thank their rescuers for the first time

New York Post26-05-2025

Alexander Wisniewski experienced the worst day of his life in Jan. 2024.
The now 19-year-old Commack resident was excited to be driving a tricked-out purple BMW M5 Competition on the windy and isolated Old Commack Road just before the car spun out into a tree and burst into 'six-foot-high' flames.
'I was stuck in the car unconscious. I had severe brain trauma and bleeding,' Wisniewski, a star soccer player who was training with German Bundesliga clubs, told The Post.
Advertisement
4 Alex Wisniewski and Michael Mancino at South Shore University Hospital's 'EMS Heroes Night' in East Islip, N.Y., 2025, honoring resilient EMS workers.
Angelina Katsanis
'Realistically, I shouldn't be alive or doing as good as I am…I'm about 90% back to normal now,' Wisniewski, who goes by Olek, added.
The difference between life and death for him was the rapid responding paramedic Michael Mancino and two good Samaritan sanitation workers driving by.
Advertisement
'I grabbed my fire extinguisher, and they also had one, and we were able to knock the flames back long enough for the fire department to get there and cut him out of the car with the jaws of life,' Mancino said.
'I didn't think he was going to even survive that. The car was in three pieces,' Mancino, 29, said.
For the first time, Wisniewski, who was treated at South Shore University Hospital, had the opportunity to give his rescuer proper recognition at Northwell's EMS Heroes Night, which honored Mancino and others last week.
4 Anthony Dees, 33, of Central Islip has no recollection of the motorcycle crash that almost took his life on Fifth Avenue in Bay Shore last June.
Angelina Katsanis
Advertisement
The two shared a heartfelt moment inside East Islip's Irish Coffee Pub as an emotional Wisniewski, now well enough to play club soccer at Florida Atlantic University in the fall, worked up the words 'thank you' to Mancino.
'I remember hearing about a week or two after the accident that he was going to be alright,' Mancino recalled.
'It felt great because in EMS, we don't get a lot of calls this severe that have a good outcome…those two workers also deserve a thank you.'
In the aftermath, Wisniewski had to retrain his body how to walk, move his left arm, speak, and several other mechanics that most take for granted.
Advertisement
4 'People were saying I was dead on the scene,' Dees said of being struck by a vehicle turning out of a doctors office.
Angelina Katsanis
'It's been a long past few months, but I owe Michael and the others my entire life,' Wisniewski said. 'They were God's angels that day.'
He has made substantial improvements in the past year and a half, where the miracle survivor almost feels 'back to normal.'
'When we're able to see somebody, months later, walk in and tell us that they're going back to their quality of life because of the profound impact health care had on them, there is no prouder moment for anyone,' said Irene Macyk, the president of South Shore.
Now, Wisniewski looks forward to the future and returning to the soccer field.
'I can't wait to score my first goal after this,' he said.
'Dead on the scene'
Anthony Dees, 33, of Central Islip has no recollection of the motorcycle crash that almost took his life on Fifth Avenue in Bay Shore last June.
'People were saying I was dead on the scene,' Dees said of being struck by a vehicle turning out of a doctors office.
Advertisement
'My spleen ruptured, my femur broke in half, my hip broke off too, my elbow went through my skin, my left I broke four ribs, my lungs collapsed — both of them — and I'm down to one kidney and had brain trauma.
4 'Realistically, I shouldn't be alive or doing as good as I am…I'm about 90% back to normal now,' Wisniewski said.
Angelina Katsanis
Through what was an absolute nightmare of year, however, Dees is now able to walk with a cane and sometimes without after perseverance through physical therapy and the support of loved ones.
'I had a lot of people come visit me at the hospital — supposedly 250. It gave me a big heart,' Dees, who also needed 10 pints of blood after the crash, added.
Advertisement
'Mentally, I'm ready to go back to work as a mechanic now. I'm just waiting on my body.'
Dees, who teared up entering the catering hall, opened his heart to the Bay Shore EMS crew that gave him a second chance at life. Bay Shore EMS declined to comment.
'I need them to just know I appreciate everything they did to save my life, and I want them to keep up the good work,' he said.
'I gave them a really big hug. I really wanted to cry and say thank you so much. If I could get down my knees, I would and thank them.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hunter Biden drops ‘revenge porn' lawsuit against Fox News for second time over nude laptop photos
Hunter Biden drops ‘revenge porn' lawsuit against Fox News for second time over nude laptop photos

New York Post

time13 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Hunter Biden drops ‘revenge porn' lawsuit against Fox News for second time over nude laptop photos

Hunter Biden once again dropped a lawsuit against Fox News that accused the network of using 'revenge porn' linked to his infamous laptop in its portrayal of the former president's son in a 2022 streaming series. The lawsuit, filed last October, accused Fox of violating New York's Civil Rights Law by broadcasting sexually explicit content of Biden in a six-part miniseries titled 'The Trial of Hunter Biden' — a fictional account of a courtroom proceeding that never took place. The series, aired on the Fox Nation platform, included material sourced from the contents of Biden's laptop — which became the subject of a series of investigative reports published by The Post ahead of the 2020 presidential election.. Advertisement 3 Hunter Biden has once again withdrawn a lawsuit against Fox News. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images 'We are pleased to move on now that Hunter Biden has finally voluntarily withdrawn this meritless case, which proved to be nothing more than a politically motivated stunt,' a Fox News spokesperson said in a statement to The Post. Fox News is owned by Fox Corp — sister company to The Post's corporate parent News Corp. This was the second time Biden has initiated legal proceedings against the network and then backed off. He first threatened to sue in April 2024, leading Fox Nation to quietly remove the series from its library. Advertisement A lawsuit followed in July, only to be withdrawn weeks later. The October case, which was officially dismissed on Friday, cannot be refiled. Although Biden's legal team has offered no public explanation for abandoning the suit, a recent loss in court — where they failed to move the case from federal to state jurisdiction — may have played a role in the decision. The Post has sought comment from Hunter Biden. Advertisement 3 The lawsuit, filed last October, accused Fox of violating New York's Civil Rights Law by broadcasting sexually explicit content of Biden in a six-part miniseries. AFP via Getty Images In his initial filing, Biden alleged that Fox News had crossed a legal line by airing private, sexually explicit images of him, claiming the series amounted to a form of revenge porn and was 'entirely fictionalized.' The complaint accused the network of exploiting Biden's image 'through a form of treatment distinct from the dissemination of news or information.' Advertisement Fox, for its part, defended the program as protected under the First Amendment. 'This entirely politically motivated lawsuit is devoid of merit,' the network said last year. 'The core complaint stems from a 2022 streaming program that Mr. Biden did not complain about until sending a letter in late April 2024. The program was removed within days of the letter, in an abundance of caution.' Fox added that Hunter Biden 'is a public figure who has been the subject of multiple investigations and is now a convicted felon.' 'Consistent with the First Amendment, Fox News has accurately covered the newsworthy events of Mr. Biden's own making, and we look forward to vindicating our rights in court.' Hunter Biden has faced a series of legal troubles, including tax and gun charges. He was convicted last year on three felony counts related to lying about his drug use when purchasing a firearm. 3 Hunter Biden is seen right with wife Melissa Cohen Biden in June 2024. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post 'The Trial of Hunter Biden' series drew from the contents of a laptop Hunter allegedly left at a Delaware repair shop in 2019. Advertisement The Post's reporting about the laptop was met with widespread censorship across major tech platforms, including Twitter and Facebook, which limited the story's reach under the justification that it could be based on 'hacked materials' — a claim later proven false. The laptop contained tens of thousands of emails, personal messages, financial records and videos, some of which showed Biden engaging in illicit drug use and explicit activity. These materials became a flashpoint in the political debate around media bias, censorship and the Biden family's business dealings.

What alleged Gilgo killer Rex Heuermann is really like according to closest pal: ‘methodical' with ‘self-control'
What alleged Gilgo killer Rex Heuermann is really like according to closest pal: ‘methodical' with ‘self-control'

New York Post

time33 minutes ago

  • New York Post

What alleged Gilgo killer Rex Heuermann is really like according to closest pal: ‘methodical' with ‘self-control'

Alleged Gilgo beach serial killer Rex Heuermann was 'very methodical' and had a great deal of 'self control,' according to his closest pal. Heuermann, 61, is said to have waited until his wife and two children were out of town before allegedly killing seven sex workers and dumping their bodies by the side of the road on Long Island between 1993 and his arrest in 2023. The first four bodies were found in 2010, but Heuermann wasn't in police's sights for a decade and so far prosecutors have revealed little physical evidence against him for his forthcoming trial. Advertisement 8 Alleged serial killer Rex Heuermann with his wife Asa Ellerup in a picture from their wedding day in 1995. Peacock 8 Heuermann's friend David Jimenez credits him with being 'very methodical' and having a great deal of 'self control' which enabled him to shield his true nature from family and friends. Courtesy of David Jimenez 'I see how, if he did do it, he got away with it for so long. Advertisement 'He's very smart, he's very methodical, he's very, meticulous, pays attention to detail,' said his pal, David Jimenez, who is one of the people who appears in new documentary 'The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets.' He also told The Post such skills are virtues in the profession they were both engaged in. 'That's part of the architecture business … I never saw him angry. He [is the kind of person who] would just keep things in and kind of make mental notes,' Jimenez, 63, told The Post in an exclusive interview. 'I found out later that he was very litigious and he was suing a lot of people. I didn't know that, so he was keeping that from me.' Advertisement 8 Rex Heuermann in his police booking photo on July 14, 2023, shortly after his arrest. Getty Images 8 Promo poster for Peacock docuseries 'The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets.' Peacock 8 Heuermann is charged with murdering (top row L-R): Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Lynn Costello; (bottom row L-R ): Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack Suffolk County Police Department Heuermann and Jimenez, who became friends in 2006, used to hunt together, smoke cigars and regularly socialize. But Jimenez had no idea of his friend's double life as an alleged sexual sadist killer. Advertisement Jimenez said because of his former pal's 'self-control' and penchant for planning, he didn't think he'd struck in Las Vegas, where he previously owned a timeshare apartment, because he didn't know the terrain or authorities in the way he did on Long Island. However, there are aspects of Heuermann's alleged crimes — which he has pleaded not guilty to — which led to his capture and will be key evidence at trial, such as sloppily wiped hard drives with apparent plans to murder on them, which were recovered by police. 8 Heuermann's wife, Asa Ellerup, has said she doesn't believe her husband can be the Gilgo beach murderer. Peacock 8 Jimenez says that for all his planning, Heuermann appears to have made some elementary mistakes when it comes to the murders he is alleged to have committed. Peacock 8 Rex Heuermann pictured during one of the many appearances he has made over the last two years as prosecutors have gathered evidence and charged him with more crimes. via REUTERS 'I'm surprised a little by the stupidity of leaving the bodies near the road. 'That's like serial killer classroom 101, don't put the bodies near the road. 'And the hard drive — any modern business person who uses computers knows if you delete something, somebody's going to undelete it. Advertisement 'As smart as he was with the tech and the cell phones, you didn't delete [the hard drive] fully. So, as smart as he is, that's really dumb.' Relatives of some of victims Heuermann is accused of murdering said the received creepy and taunting phone calls after their loved ones disappeared, from burner phones which police say they have traced back to Heuermann. 'The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets' premieres today on Peacock.

Austrian school shooter was 21-year-old former pupil, authorities say
Austrian school shooter was 21-year-old former pupil, authorities say

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Austrian school shooter was 21-year-old former pupil, authorities say

The gunman who killed nine people at a secondary school in the Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday before taking his own life was a 21-year-old former pupil, Austrian authorities said. The man used a long gun and a handgun, law enforcement officials said at a press conference, adding that they are still investigating the motive. Both firearms were legally owned. Of the nine victims, six were female and three male, according to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. Twelve people were injured, he said, some of them seriously. The minister said the perpetrator never graduated and that his motive was still being investigated. After carrying out the rampage, he died by suicide in a bathroom at the school. Chancellor Christian Stocker was on his way to the scene in Austria's second-largest city along with top officials as condolences and messages of support poured in from national and European leaders. "This horror cannot be put into words," President Alexander Van der Bellen wrote on X. "Austria is in mourning." Shots fired on Tuesday morning Police said the shots were fired at an upper secondary school around 10 am (0800 GMT), with special units quickly responding to the scene. Students at such schools are typically 14 years and older. The building was evacuated, with students and teachers escorted to a safe meeting place, and some 300 police officers were deployed. Parents and uninjured students were taken to nearby buildings and cared for by crisis intervention teams, the city said. Police wrote later on X there was "no further danger" and that the "situation is secure." A spokesman for the local Red Cross said more than 160 rescue workers were sent to the scene. Several rescue helicopters were also in operation, while a special emergency protocol was activated to ensure medical care for numerous injured individuals. European leaders 'horrified' by shooting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote in German on X: "The news from Graz hits home. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and friends." "Schools are symbols of youth, hope, and the future," she added. "It is difficult to bear when schools become places of death and violence." European Council President António Costa said he was "horrified by the news of the school shooting in Graz." "A senseless act of violence in a place where children should feel safe and protected," he wrote on X. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz also extended their condolences over the deadly shooting. "It was with great dismay and deep sadness that I learnt of the act of violence in Graz, in which so many innocent people lost their lives," Steinmeier wrote to his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen. "Your German neighbours are with you in their hearts," Steinmeier said. Merz sent a message to Chancellor Stocker, saying he was "deeply shocked that young people were torn from their lives so abruptly." Three days of mourning to be announced Austria will observe three days of national mourning following the deadly shooting. A minute's silence will be observed across the country on Wednesday. Flags at the presidential office, the chancellery, and other official buildings are to be flown at half-mast during the mourning period. Graz, in south-eastern Austria, is home to around 300,000 people.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store