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Woman Thanks LIRR Crew, 'Wonderful Young Man' After Husband's Platform Gap Fall

MANHASSET, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The wife of a 92-year-old man who fell through a Long Island train-platform gap said she wishes she knew the name of the "wonderful young man" who helped pick him up.

Dorothy Goldman also praised Long Island Rail Road personnel who helped her husband on Sunday night in Great Neck.

Ben Goldman was hospitalized in Manhasset with cuts and bruises.

Dorothy Goldman tells Newsday that her husband normally takes her hand to help her off the train. Instead, he "disappeared."

LIRR spokesman Sal Arena said Goldman fell in up to his hip.

Dorothy Goldman says she was aware of the potential danger.

Rider Daria told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs the gap is wide.

"Like, when I go over, I, like, jump over," she said.

Xirinachs measured a gap of 8 to 10 inches wide.

The LIRR has spent millions to reduce the gaps between trains and platforms, and to warn passengers, since a 2007 Newsday series shed light on the problem.

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(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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