This year there were nine submissions for rail employees who had saved someone’s life. The judges felt these Life Saver awards should be made to properly recognise these incredible acts of human bravery by members of staff who went above and beyond their everyday duties.
Lorna Bathgate and Charlie Algeo, Ticket Officer and Train Dispatcher, ScotRail
Lorna and Charlie have been praised for their life-saving actions when another rail worker collapsed on the footbridge at Inverkeithing station.
Alerted to the incident by members of the public, Lorna quickly realised that the person wasn’t breathing and began to administer chest compressions, while Charlie retrieved the station’s Automated External Defibrillator.
While on the phone to emergency services, Lorna began to use the defibrillator to resuscitate the colleague, with assistance from Charlie and members of the public.
Fortunately, the person was breathing again when paramedics arrived, and is now recovering well with no signs of permanent damage.
“What started as a normal day heading into work for one person quickly turned into a horrible nightmare which, thankfully, has had a positive ending,” said ScotRail Safety, Engineering and Sustainability Director David Lister.
“The railway is often described as a family. And while they may not have known it at the time, Lorna and Charlie’s actions helped to keep that family together.
“They are a credit to ScotRail, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Lauren McQuillan and Victoria Sweeney, Revenue Protection Officers, Southeastern 
Lauren was called into action when a colleague sent a jumbled text message saying he thought he’d had a stroke.
After calling 999 and then going straight to his house, Lauren drove him straight to the Accident & Emergency department, arriving before the ambulance.
Thanks to her swift response, medics advised that he would hopefully make a recovery.
Victoria supported Lauren throughout the ordeal, sending her money to buy their colleague essential supplies for his stay in hospital.
The pair then continued to support him, helping him to attend medical appointments and providing everyday necessities for many months.
Steve Clements, Southeastern revenue protection manager, said: “If they hadn’t got to him when they did, his prognosis may not have been good. They saved his life. Their compassion and support during a colleague’s time of need is commendable and is what the railway family is all about.”
Saad Mulla, Customer Service Assistance, Network Rail
In the run-up to Christmas 2021, London Paddington-based customer service assistant Saad Mulla was on duty at 0200 when he spotted a distressed and unsteady man travelling the wrong way on the escalator on Platform 12.
Clearly intoxicated, the man tried to run up the escalator. Saad switched it off to prevent him from falling and coming to serious harm.
Unfortunately, as Saad led him away to the safety of a nearby bench, the man began using broken glass from a smashed bottle to cut himself.
The man became abusive, but Saad kept talking to him, calmed him down, and called for help.
Network Rail Head of Stations Susan Evans said: “Saad’s shift manager on the night said his response was up there with some of the best things he’s ever seen people do at stations.
“It must have been a shocking incident to deal with and is not what people expect to face when they come into work. But he reassured the customer, kept them safe, and made sure they came to no serious harm.”
Vincent O’Brien, Train Presentation Operative, Northern 
Since joining Northern in January 2018, Vincent O’Brien has been based at Barrow depot.
On March 21 2022, while Vincent was carrying out train cleaning duties at Southport, the station’s Merseyrail manager was advised of an incident in the female toilets.
On arrival at the scene, he found Vincent already in attendance, administering first aid to a young lady who had sadly attempted to take her own life.
Vincent worked with Merseyrail staff to keep the female calm, while they administered what treatment they could before the paramedics arrived.
She was then taken to hospital to receive further medical and mental health treatment.
Vincent was commended for remaining calm, confident, and “handling the situation impeccably in a very tragic environment”.
The Merseyrail manager added: “A simple thank you to Vincent seems inappropriate for all his dedication and good humour during this incident. I’m sure Northern is as proud to employ this exceptional individual as I am to know him.”
Lucy Hayden and Matt Doyle, Customer Host and Revenue Protection Inspector, GWR 
When a passenger pulled a woman away from the platform edge as a train was arriving at Worle station, little could Lucy Hayden and Matt Doyle have known what chain of events would follow.
They stayed with the female in a platform shelter for more than 30 minutes, while emergency services were called, before events then took another terrible twist.
The female unexpectedly slid off the seat and collapsed on the floor, foaming from the mouth.
Matt, who was on a rest day but had gone to the station to meet his girlfriend, helped Lucy to move the female into the recovery position, so that she wouldn’t choke.
After the woman’s body became limp and her eyes rolled into the back of her head, Doyle sprinted to fetch a defibrillator.
The duo then made steps to use it before paramedics arrived and were able to revive the female from what was later established to be a drugs overdose.
Donna Illet-Vidhi, Station Controller, c2c 
On May 29 2021, Donna’s abilities as a station controller at Barking station were put to the test when a male collapsed on the concourse.
After raising the alarm and calling emergency services, she immediately took charge of the situation by performing basic life support techniques that she had learned in training many years previously.
With the male unconscious and unresponsive, a decision was made to use a defibrillator. After the pads were placed on the man’s chest, the defibrillator did the rest automatically and made several shocks before indicating that the male had become stable.
All the while that medical treatment was being administered, crowds of onlookers had to be dealt with and moved on.
The ambulance service then arrived and took over management of the patient.
Their feedback was clear that the actions of Donna and her team had undoubtedly saved the man’s life.
Ashley Brown, Driver, LNER
On March 8 2022, while travelling on a train from Newcastle to Edinburgh, Ashley Brown was made aware by the onboard team that a passenger was suffering from breathing difficulties and chest pain.
Ashley offered her services and was soon with the elderly woman, offering comfort and reassurance to her for more than 40 minutes while the train made its way to its destination, where paramedics had been requested to attend.
Onboard team members praised Ashley for staying with the woman during a very worrying time, easing their commitments and ensuring the rest of the passengers were looked after.
Ashley modestly played down the incident and insisted that she “only did what anyone else would”. But this humility was said by LNER to only amplify her values to put others first.
It later transpired that the elderly woman had suffered a heart attack. She has since had a stent fitted and is now making a full recovery. She was extremely keen for Ashley’s efforts to be properly recognised.
Paul Black, Customer Service Assistant, Southern Railway 
When a fatality occurred at Preston Park on April 21 2021, Paul Black found that he was the only member of station staff on duty.
Paul’s immediate reaction was to check on the welfare of those around him, and he rapidly went to the aid of a female passenger who had witnessed the traumatic events on the platform.
She explains: “I was almost entirely alone on the platform and witnessed the sound of what happened as well as the aftermath. I couldn’t breathe or move. All I could do was scream.
“Paul tried his best to console me, calm me down, and ushered me out the station. He was totally amazing, and I don’t know what I’d have done without him to get out of the station safely.”
Paul’s manager also described him as “an exceptional human being” who evacuated the station very quickly while assisting the distressed passenger and awaiting the arrival of emergency services.
She added: “He remained calm and proactive throughout and is a real credit to the Brighton area team.”
Dawn Bennett, Driver, East Midlands Railway
Lincoln-based driver Dawn Bennett was on a routine turn when she brought her train to a stand at a signal protecting Holton le Moor.
After waiting a short while for a proceed aspect, she attempted to contact the signaller via GSM-R, but had no luck.
Concerned for his welfare, Dawn decided to walk up the track to the signal box, where she found the signaller laying on the floor mid-cardiac arrest.
She stayed with the signaller, giving him support and care as best she could, until paramedics arrived to give emergency CPR.
After satisfying herself that she was in a fit mental state to drive, Dawn remarkably then returned to her cab to complete the rest of her shift, without fault.
Although she insisted that she had done nothing special, Dawn’s management team rightly disagreed.
They said: “What she did was above and beyond, and has heavily contributed to the signaller still being with us. He is making steady progress and will hopefully make a full recovery to be able to enjoy his retirement.”
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