Girl, 5, who was rescued from subway tracks when her suicidal father jumped in front of a train while holding her and killed himself becomes an honorary NYPD cop

  • Ferni Balbuena, 5, became an honorary police officer for a day on Friday as a part of the Hope Program in Manhattan, New York
  • The NYPD Hope Program connects disadvantaged children with the police department 
  • Ferni's father, Fernando Balbuena, committed suicide in September by jumping in front of a subway train in the Bronx while holding her 
  • Balbuena died from the incident, but Ferni was rescued unharmed by two Good Samaritans
  • Niurka Caraballo, Ferni's mother, said Balbuena suffered from depression at the time 

A five-year-old girl who was rescued after her suicidal father jumped with her onto subway tracks in the Bronx became an honorary NYPD officer on Friday. 

NYPD Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison shared a photo of young Ferni Balbuena dressed in a officer's uniform on Twitter. 

He wrote: 'Today is Ferni Balbuena’s [NYPD] Hope Trip. Ferni was rescued unharmed last month after her father jumped onto the tracks with her. She found a few minutes to stop by my office before heading over to the Mounted Unit.' 

Pictured: Ferni Balbuena, 5, (left) and Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison (right) on Friday after she was named a honorary NYPD officer for a day

Pictured: Ferni Balbuena, 5, (left) and Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison (right) on Friday after she was named a honorary NYPD officer for a day 

The NYPD Hope Program works to bridge disadvantaged children, including those who experienced a traumatic incident or a severe illness, with the police department.   

The NY Post reported that Ferni spent the day visiting friendly police horses, spending time on a NYPD Harbor Unit vessel and eating pizza. 

Niurka Caraballo, Ferni's mother, repeatedly said: 'Ella estaba divertido' - or 'She was happy!'

Caraballo said Ferni liked her uniform and when asked how the tot was doing, she said: 'She’s doing good.' 

Ferni (pictured) spent the day meeting NYPD horses, exploring a Harbor Unit vessel and eating pizza

Ferni (pictured) spent the day meeting NYPD horses, exploring a Harbor Unit vessel and eating pizza 

In September, Fernando Balbuena (right) committed suicide by jumping in front of a subway train in the Bronx while holding Ferni in his arms

In September, Fernando Balbuena (right) committed suicide by jumping in front of a subway train in the Bronx while holding Ferni in his arms 

Ferni made headlines in September when her father, 45-year-old Fernando Balbuena, jumped in front of an oncoming subway train at the Kingsbridge Road station while holding her. 

Before he jumped to his death, he reportedly called Caraballo and said: 'With God, with God. Here comes the train.'

Miraculously, Ferni survived the incident and was rescued from underneath the train by two Good Samaritans. 

Cell phone video shows two Good Samaritans, Jairo Torres (right) and Antonyo Love (left), rescuing Ferni form beneath the train

Cell phone video shows two Good Samaritans, Jairo Torres (right) and Antonyo Love (left), rescuing Ferni form beneath the train 

Pictured: Ferni being lifted onto the station's walkway after surviving the tragic incident unharmed

Pictured: Ferni being lifted onto the station's walkway after surviving the tragic incident unharmed 

Balbuena (left) reportedly suffered from depression and was taking medication at the time of the incident

Balbuena (left) reportedly suffered from depression and was taking medication at the time of the incident 

She survived because she fell flat in between train tracks.   

Cell phone footage shows two men reaching under the train's end to coax Ferni out of harms way. 

Ferni was lifted onto the station's walkway where a crowd of concerned commuters looked on in horror. 

One of the heroic men who saved Ferni, Jairo Torres, told WCBS: 'I never think about anything. I just care about saving the life of the baby.'

At the time, Ferni asked Torres what happened to her father. 

'She says "What happened to my daddy?" I said "Don’t look at your daddy. Come to me. Crawl like a puppy,"' he said.  

The other savior, Antonyo Love, said: 'By the sake of God, the child ended up under the train, underneath, between the wheels, this is how she was able to survive.'

Niurka Caraballo (right), Ferni's mother, said her daughter is still processing what happened to Balbuena

Niurka Caraballo (right), Ferni's mother, said her daughter is still processing what happened to Balbuena 

Meanwhile, Caraballo rushed to the station to find her daughter perfectly safe and her husband dead.

She later explained that Balbuena suffered from depression, but had been taking medication at the time of the incident. 

Caraballo said: 'My husband is a serious man, responsible, quiet and reserved. He was in treatment, he took his medication. We are all in shock.' 

Although physically fine, Ferni doesn't fully understand what happened to her father yet. 

'Ferni was very close to him... After what happened, she is saying, "Daddy is in the hospital. He hurt his stomach,"' Caraballo said. 

Before jumping onto the train tracks, Balbuena (right) reportedly told his wife, 'With God, with God. Here comes the train'

Before jumping onto the train tracks, Balbuena (right) reportedly told his wife, 'With God, with God. Here comes the train'

Regardless of the tragic event, Caraballo maintains that Balbuena was a good father. 

She said: 'He is not a bad person. I don't know what was going through his mind in that moment, but he's not like that. He loved this little girl.'

For their bravery, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. honored Torres and Dominguez for rescuing Ferni. 

'It is the true meaning of being a hero. They’re not asking for this attention. They don’t want the spotlight,' Diaz said. 

'I’m so happy, not about this moment, not about this [certificate] I have in my hand,' Torres said. 'The only thing is the baby. She is good. She is still alive. Thank you God for that.'

Jairo Torres (middle) and Antonyo Love were honored by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. for rescuing Ferni

Jairo Torres (middle) and Antonyo Love were honored by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. for rescuing Ferni

Love said: 'I don’t even want to take the credit for it. I owe [Torres] everything. I’m just at a loss for words right now for what I saw, anyways.'

'I suffer from PTSD, so there’s a lot on me right now. I don’t know. I owe it all to him. He’s the hero. I was just there to accompany him, to help him out.'

In a statement, the MTA sent condolences to Ferni's family and the train operator.  

'This is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the family members as well as with our train operator — this is a traumatic event for everyone involved,' it read. 

For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255