An 88-year-old woman was attacked in her New York City home Wednesday, but police said her Life Alert device may have saved her life, WPIX reported.

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Selwyn Worrell, 24, was arrested and charged with rape, sexually motivated assault and burglary, the television station reported.

Police said Worrell was someone the woman knew, WPIX reported. According to police, once Worrell was inside the woman's Brooklyn home, police said he began choking her and dragged her to the basement, WABC reported.

The victim was wearing her Life Alert device, and it was activated during the attack, which allowed police and first responders to go to her home, WPIX reported.

Worrell was taken into custody several blocks away, police said.

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