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Why was the Q train delayed from beginning its run from Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island on Wednesday night? This shocking video, forwarded by our reader Nicky Huddy, shows why.

In it, you’ll watch as a heroic straphanger dives in and rescues a squirrel from imminent doom after its head apparently got stuck under a seat on the Manhattan-bound train.

The action is, as we said, shocking — but it’s not the first time that a subway car has become like Noah’s Ark (except that it’s on rails, has only one animal at a time and, frankly, has no Noah — though there is the occasional flooding).

“I heard about a bat that got onto a train in the Bronx,” said MTA spokeswoman Deirdre Parker. “I’ve heard of pigeons. I’ve never heard of a squirrel.”

The brave commuter who stepped in — and who must come forward to receive the accolades that he has so richly deserved — certainly saved a delay, Parker suggested.

“There are no written hard and fast rules [about what to do when a squirrel jumps onto a train], but the crew would usually call into their command center, and the command center would notify the police who would notify animal control. They would shut down the car and go back to the terminal.”

That didn’t happen — as you’ll see on the shocking (it really is shocking!) video above.

©2009 Community Newspaper Group