David Thomas

Said the following about Ian Leeming:

“On a Tuesday, a Telecoms team were working in a location case in the Wymington area on behalf of the BM24 L2C (London to Corby) project.

Ian Leeming and Jamie Taylor had finished their work in the location case, and just as they were leaving site, they passed a male member of the public sitting on a bridge, a road bridge over the railway in the local area. The railway line below was open to traffic at full line speed. The bridge spans the fast lines, where the line speed is 110 mph.

The area around the bridge is a known hot spot for potential suicide attempts, and there are Samaritans notices posted on the fencing and structures.

The team approached the man, who was sitting on the parapet wall with his legs dangling over the side of the wall, to assess his intentions and asked him if he was alright, to which, he just shook his head, and it was at this time that they noticed he was in a distressed, tearful state. A member of the team then attempted to alert the British Transport Police, but simply got a recorded answer machine message.

The team then rang 999 and alerted the emergency services control room, who in turn, alerted the police. The team gave the precise location of the event and explained the circumstances to the control room, and stayed on the line as they monitored the actions of the person until the arrival of a police patrol car some 30 minutes later. Once the police had been informed, they contacted Network Rail control to arrange for the line speed of passing rail traffic to be reduced on the approach to the bridge.

The team met the police patrol and provided a verbal report as they escorted them to the scene.

The police then took control of the event, persuading the person to leave the bridge and taking him to a place of safety.

An excellent piece of work by members of the Siemens project team, who dealt with an emergency in a thoughtful, calm and effective manner.

They could have saved a life that day.“

Olabode Ariyo

Said the following about Ian Leeming:

“Ian took care of one of the most difficult situations that could happen on the railway by preventing a gentleman from taking his own life, jumping of a bridge.

Whilst Ian was leaving work site on an afternoon with another of his colleague Jamie Taylor they spotted a gentleman who was sat on his own by the edge of the bridge, starring downwards and contemplating on taking his own life. However, with the bravery and quick reaction of Ian and Jamie they were able to approach this man and had an open dialogue with him. Whilst trying to talk to him they alerted the British transport police, Network rail and the emergency services of the situation at hand. With a block immediately put on the line in the Wilmington area and the police responding, they successfully talked down the gentleman and took him to a place of safety.

Thanks to Ian and Jamie for their quick intervention and bravery, saving not just another life but a glory of talent that could have been wasted.“