James Frost

Said the following about Peter Cunniff:

““TPE Train Service Controller Peter Cunniff rang in to report that whilst travelling home on his rest day with his wife, he had stopped at a bridge (road over rail) north of Wigan NW, owing to a young male sat on the bridge edge with his legs dangling over the parapet.

Peter requested that the lines be blocked and advised that he would approach the boy in an attempt to try and talk him down from the bridge. Peter spoke with the boy and tried to understand what was troubling him, which required Peter to ask some probing questions to get the boy to open up to him. Peter advised that he kept explaining that everything would be ok, once understanding why the boy was sat on the bridge. After some time and conversation, the boy started to climb down & was then ushered onto the pavement by Peter.

Peter called control once again requesting that we advise the BT Police officer in charge that he had managed to get the boy to come down from the bridge edge, where the boy could be heard crying in the background. The BT Police officer in Charge & NRNW arranged for the NR MOM and a BTP office in the area to attend the location to add additional support.

The MOM arrived on site and there was no sign of anyone. Peter was contacted via telephone and reported the boy, who was only young, had run away from school. Peter explained that the boy had been in a similar situation before and was now under Peters supervision. An elderly male who was watching the incident had also helped by allowing Peter and the boy to wait at his house for the police & ambulance to arrive.““