The RailStaff Awards 2024

Mark Leyman

South West Trains

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Nominations for Samaritans Lifesaver Award

Bill Marshall

Said the following about Mark Leyman:

“Mark is a station supervisor at Winchester station and he has had 2 interventions in 4 days details are as follows :-

On Thursday 10th March at approx. 19.30 a guard phoned and told Mark there was a lady at the country end of platform 2 who appeared to be distressed, Mark approached her with caution and tried to engage her in conversation but she was not responding. A train approached on the down and came to a halt at the station and the lady then became very agitated but Mark told her that the train was going nowhere until he said so, he was then able to calm her down a little and steer her to a bench adjacent to my office and very shortly afterwards the emergency services arrived and left with the lady.

On Sunday 13th March at approx. 13.45 a young woman came on to the station , she had apparently self harmed by slashing her wrists and intended to jump in front of a train, Mark restrained her by sitting on her and called the emergency services just before 2 pm he then called the signaller to inform him of what was going on.

He made a follow up call 10 mins later to find out when they would arrive and they could not give him a specific time and they eventually arrived at approx. 14.40 , 40 mins after initial call. Mark has had to deal with 2 interventions in a few days and the second was was particularly unpleasant with Mark having to physically restrain the young lady by sitting on her, being covered in her blood and at the same time call the emergency services and the controlling signaller.He really did go the extra mile and to have 1 successful intervention is amazing but to have 2 in the space of a few days is remarkable. These acts are so typical of his attitude and any recognition he receives is thoroughly deserved.“