The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Samaritans Lifesaver Award

Frankie Lynch

Said the following about Adrian Pooley and Daniel Spencer:

“Whilst working on board a train, the driver asked for assistance from the on-board Revenue whilst pulling into a station, sounding quite alarmed Adrian and Dan got off the train to reach the drivers cab promptly. Once there the driver pointed out two ladies saying one of them was trying to jump in front of the train as the train was pulling in and the other lady had wrestled her away from the edge.

The lady that had stopped the lady from jumping was very distressed but needed to board the train, the other lady was just stood on the platform. The on-board conductor suggested that she board the train as well so that they could get her to a place of safety, she refused this offer and Adrian and Dan knew they could not force her on to a train. So, in the interest of looking after both of the distressed ladies Dan boarded the train with the lady who prevented her from jumping and Adrian stayed with the lady who had tried to harm herself.

The lady that Adrian was speaking with had no interest in speaking with Adrian and would not tell him her name or respond to any of his questions, Adrian introduced himself and started to try and strike up ant conversation that would try and distract the lady from the situation at hand. Adrian asked if the where the lady lived, saying he had family that lived there as well, seeing some common ground the lady trusted Adrian and started to tell him her situation. She said that she was quite ill and wasn’t dealing with the situation very well and felt as if she was having a break down, she said that he husband and son were at home but thought she was ok and had just gone out for a walk. In between telling Adrian things she kept asking him to leave her alone. She asked in a polite way, so Adrian insisted that he just wanted to sit with her. Adrian even tried to move her away from the tracks towards the ticket office but she insisted where she was.

While Dan was on board the train calming down the other passenger and comforting her by asking if she needed anything once she arrives at her destination which she declined and said she was just in shock that she saw someone try to take their own life. Dan handed her information on the Samaritans and informed her that if she wanted to talk to somebody about what she had experienced they could be called at any time. The lady accepted the number and thanked Dan, Dan also rang BTP to assist Adrian and KICC to put trains on alert through the station.

Shortly after a MOM, BTP and an ambulance arrived to take over the situation. The lady was sectioned under the mental health act and led her away to an ambulance and it became very clear that the lady was in poor health and in a lot of pain. The ambulance crew spoke to the lady and she admitted that she wanted to end her life and she would have kept trying until she was successful if no one had intervened.

This incident left both Adrian and Dan affected mentally as the lady was so vulnerable and they empathised so deeply the fact that she was elderly made both of them reflect on how close she was to their own parents age and how vulnerable people can be.“