The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Samaritans Lifesaver Award

Karen Grimshaw

Said the following about Sara Skinner:

“On the afternoon of 20th June a customer approached Sara in the floorwalking area to say a customer had collapsed on a bench nearby.

Sara ran over and checked to find the customer unresponsive, she put out an immediate call on the radio for support and ran to the Network Rail info pod to collect the defibrillator (despite not having been trained in First Aid)

Returning to the customer she was joined by Rob Gregory and Zoe Shaw who helped keep customers away. They applied the defibrillator to the customer and as they began to consider applying CPR (chest compressions) two members of the public stepped forward to say they were nurses and took over.

The defibrillator advised that the customer's heart had stopped and needed shocking, and the shock was then applied a subsequent 8 times before Paramedics arrived to take the customer to hospital where he fortunately made a recovery.

Given that the customer's heart had stopped and every second counted, had it not been for Sara's quick thinking in grabbing the defib, and their joint efforts in clearing space and prepping the customer for CPR, this could have ended with a loss of life.

Incredible bravery shown by all of them in being prepared to jump in and take action where other members of the public stood by and watched especially as they are not First Aid trained.

Great work team, very proud of you all

Karen“