MIDTOWN — The parents of a British tourist whose leg was amputated after she was hit by a cab on Tuesday thanked the heroic plumber and celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz who helped save their daughter's life.
Jason and Sonia Green, parents of Sian Green, 23, issued a statement Thursday evening through Bellevue Hospital, where their daughter is recovering from the accident in which she lost part of her left leg.
"There are not enough words to express our gratitude to everyone who has helped our family during this difficult time," Green's parents said in a statement. They hailed Dr. Oz and plumber David Justino, whose quick action at the scene may have saved their daughter's life.
"We hope Sian will soon be on her way to recovery and will be able to personally thank all the kind people of New York City."
Green was eating a hot dog at Rockefeller Center when she was hit by a cab driven by Mohammed F. Himon, 24. Himon told the New York Post that he was fighting with cyclist Kenneth Olivo while trying to make a left turn onto West 49th Street when he accelerated onto the sidewalk.
Justino, Oz and other passersby applied makeshift tourniquets to help stanch the bleeding until medics arrived.
Green's doctor, trauma surgeon Dr. Spiros Frangos, said in a statement that her left leg was amputated below the knee because of the accident and could not be reattached.
Her right leg, he added, sustained deep lacerations which were cleaned and repaired and should heal with time and physical therapy.
"She has been cared for by a highly trained trauma and surgical team and was fortunate to not have sustained other major injuries," Frangos said.
"Ms. Green has remained optimistic despite the difficult circumstances and is very fortunate to have such a loving and supportive family."
Green's family also thanked Frangos and the other medical workers from the hospital, along with emergency personnel and the NYPD.
"Everyone we have come into contact with at the hospital has been more than helpful in ensuring our daughter is being well taken care of," the statement said.
They also thanked the staff at the Hotel Pennsylvania, especially manager Fred Grapstein, and gave "a very special thanks to all the people of New York City and beyond who we dont know and have sent well wishes to our family."
Himon racked up nine points on his driver's license with a series of violations dating back to February 2011 — enough to merit a review of his hack license, though TLC officials said it never looked into the issue until the crash because of an oversight.
An NYPD investigation into the incident is ongoing.
