The response of onlookers who stood by as a man was hit by a train after being pushed onto the tracks is prompting self-reflection among citizens.

According to witnesses, Naeem Davis approached 58-year-old Han Ki-suk in the Times Square station, in Manhattan, New York, before the two got into a quarrel. Davis then pushed Han into the train’s path.

Even though Han had somewhere between 22 and 90 seconds before the train struck him, according to different sources, people nearby didn’t try to rescue the victim.

The New York Times published an article, titled “After fatal subway shove, asking: Were there no heroes?”

“What would you do if you were pushed to the tracks? Or if you were standing beside someone who was pushed?” it read.

The 30-year-old suspect was arrested on a second-degree murder charge.

Han’s only child, 20-year-old Ashley, said at a news conference after Davis was arrested that it “would have been great” if someone had helped her father up but “what’s done is done.”

A freelancer photographer, R. Umar Abbasi, is at the center of controversy after the New York Post published the picture he took of Han watching the oncoming train helplessly.

The public criticized Abbasi for not helping the victim when he had enough time to take pictures ― 49 in total ― but he defended his actions, saying he was attempting to alert the driver and there was “no way” he could have reached the man in time to rescue him.

By Park Han-na  (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)