Matthew Hulls

Said the following about David Bond:

“For this year’s Samaritans Lifesaver Award, I would like to nominate David Bond, a Conductor for Abellio East Anglia (Greater Anglia) Limited, based in Colchester, Essex, 63 years of age with nearly 13 years’ service within the industry.

On the evening of Monday, 11th February 2019, Dave was the booked Conductor on service 2F73, which formed the 1700 service between Walton-on-Naze and Colchester North. On approach to Colchester Town around 1740, on a very dark evening, Dave’s train was brought to an abrupt stand on approach to the station. Naturally, after a short pause, Dave got in contact with his Driver, to discover that unfortunately the service had hit a gentleman on the line. Dave, like many a Conductors in said situation, which unfortunately does happen on quite a fair basis, made his way through the 4-car train during a busy evening peak, speaking with his passengers and keeping them informed of the on-going situation as he made his way forward to attend to his driver. On reaching the driving cab, he discovered that the situation had not resulted in a fatality, but the gentleman was badly injured. Naturally, in said situation Dave’s driver was incredibly distraught and Dave with the consideration of the large number of passengers on-board his train, and obviously the welfare of his driver in the forefront of his considerations. Dave also had to contend with a gentleman on the track in clear distress, who needed immediate attention.

While Dave’s driver, attended to the process of calling the signaller, and informing the necessary parties of what had occurred. Dave took it upon himself, to get his Hi-Vis on, and go down and attend to the gentleman involved. What Dave was presented with, to many was quite horrific – unfortunately the gentleman involved had suffered life threatening injuries and needed immediate attention. Dave took up on himself, in such a harrowing situation, to not only do what he could to try and stem the blood-loss by applying pressure where he could to a severe injury to the gentleman’s leg, but even more-extraordinary considering the circumstances, but no so extraordinary to those of us that know Dave so well, he stayed with the gentleman throughout, talking to him and doing his upmost to keep him calm, and do what he could to keep his heart rate down as to not escalate the gentleman’s injuries anymore. It took the emergency services nearly 40 minutes to attend, considering the conditions, on a freezing cold February evening, in the darkness which I can imagine must have felt like a lifetime to those involved. Dave kept the gentleman involved talking for as long as he could, keeping him calm and more importantly doing everything he could in keeping him alive. I was in attendance on arrival of the service into Colchester Town, after nearly 2 hours of being stranded outside the station because of the incident, and the reaction of the passengers leaving the service and their gratitude for Dave’s efforts that evening was clear to see.

Dave’s efforts this evening were nothing short of heroic, and despite the gentleman involved suffering life changing injuries, Dave was able to do his upmost in a harrowing situation to ensure that not only did he do what he could for a seriously injured person, under extreme and difficult circumstances, but also ensure the welfare of his driver, and the passengers onboard his service were also paramount in his considerations. Dave was greatly commended not only by his colleagues from Greater Anglia in attendance that evening, but also by the British Transport Police, and operatives from the emergency services who were also on-site that evening. Dave was awarded an internal award for his efforts, but I personally feel his efforts were above and beyond, and he would be greatly deserved of a nomination at the Rail Staff Awards, for the Samaritans Lifesaver Award for 2019. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this nomination.“