The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Samaritans Lifesaver Award

James Coyle

Said the following about Lee Klingenspor:

“Lee has been involved in 6 lifesaving interventions in the last year. 4 of the most impressive are detailed below:-

A suicidal male was spotted loitering at a station and behaving strangely whilst talking with Lee and station staff, our Samaritans training highlighted the behaviour as a concern. We immediately contacted the BTP for assistance and got the male to wait for us. Whilst waiting for the BTP we spotted a female leaving the platform crying. The female informed us she was lost and whilst talking with her Lee noticed scratch marks on her neck and was very distressed. Lee realised something wasn’t right with the female and asked her to wait with us for the BTP, she thanked him and agreed to wait.

Lee stayed with her and reassured both the male and female until the BTP arrived and handed them over to their care. The male had been reported missing, had paranoid, schizophrenia and suicidal tendencies, we were thanked for our quick thinking and saving 2 lives at the station.

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Arriving at a station Lee spotted a male staggering on the platform, we immediately made our way into the station by which time the male was on another platform and behind the mid-platform gates. Lee immediately called to the male to “Stop!” and led him off the platform. Whilst talking with the male he admitted to crossing the tracks and that he was having a bad day, his wife had died a year ago, he was having trouble with his kids and he had been drinking all day. Immediately realising the male was a high-risk for suicide Lee led him to a place of safety away from the railway and handed him over to the BTP.

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Arriving at the station Lee and his colleague Yaya spotted a young female sitting on edge of platform, they immediately made their way to her and using their Samaritans training engaged her in a conversation.

She was very agitated and made repeated threats to jump in front of a train. This was a particularly sensitive and difficult intervention. We quickly moved her to a place of safety and handed her over to the BTP. They were thanked by BTP and MTR Crossrail for their quick actions.“