Recruitment
“At first glance, Mark Spyros thought that a young female passenger at London Liverpool Street on 6 January 2016 was ill and may need assistance. But on further inspection he realised she looked slightly distressed. His quick thinking and proactive decision to intervene helped to prevent a serious incident and save her life.
After noticing the distressed young woman, Mark made his way through the busy station crowd. Noticing him, the woman began to move away and boarded a train. Mark, having monitored through the crowd, also boarded the train and saw the passenger be slightly sick. On thinking that this could be a ‘typical’ ill passenger incident, Mark was making arrangements for a cleaner when he again noticed the female looking more distressed, appearing emotionally upset.
He made the decision to sit down next to her – the only vacant seat in the entire carriage was next to her – and introduced himself. Mark offered to wipe up the sick with some tissues he had but the female completely ignored him. With the train about to depart, Mark decided to travel with her until the first stop, Stratford, where he could seek help from the station staff.
Mark made the most of the seven-minute journey to Stratford, trying to talk with the passenger. Conscious of the other passengers on the train, he spoke quietly to her whilst also advising Control of the situation. On arrival at Stratford, attempts were made to persuade the lady to leave the train for medical assistance but she refused. The train departed Stratford, but Mark stayed with the passenger, reassuring her that he wanted to help. She refused to answer and continued to look and behave extremely upset.
Fifteen minutes later the train arrived at Goodmayes, where the passenger got up to leave. Mark followed and saw the passenger walk towards the end of the platform, away from the gateline and exit.
Mark intervened and asked again how he could help? The passenger replied that she wished to kill herself; she had not got the university place she wanted and felt her father would be disappointed.
Mark asked what her father’s name was – it too was Mark. This hook formed a connection with the passenger, something that helped her to open up more. Mark listened carefully whilst continuing to update Control and call the Emergency Services. He guided the lady away from the platform edge to a place of safety on the platform, waiting together for assistance.
Mark’s alertness, patience, understanding, care and control of a difficult and challenging 40+ minute situation was exemplary. He quickly recognised this was not an ill passenger but a much more serious situation and he was able to make a real difference.“
“At first glance, Mark Spyros thought that a young female passenger at London Liverpool Street on 6 January 2016 was ill and may need assistance. But on further inspection he realised she looked slightly distressed. His quick thinking and proactive decision to intervene helped to prevent a serious incident and save her life.
After noticing the distressed young woman, Mark made his way through the busy station crowd. Noticing him, the woman began to move away and boarded a train. Mark, having monitored through the crowd, also boarded the train and saw the passenger be slightly sick. On thinking that this could be a ‘typical’ ill passenger incident, Mark was making arrangements for a cleaner when he again noticed the female looking more distressed, appearing emotionally upset.
He made the decision to sit down next to her – the only vacant seat in the entire carriage was next to her – and introduced himself. Mark offered to wipe up the sick with some tissues he had but the female completely ignored him. With the train about to depart, Mark decided to travel with her until the first stop, Stratford, where he could seek help from the station staff.
Mark made the most of the seven-minute journey to Stratford, trying to talk with the passenger. Conscious of the other passengers on the train, he spoke quietly to her whilst also advising Control of the situation. On arrival at Stratford, attempts were made to persuade the lady to leave the train for medical assistance but she refused. The train departed Stratford, but Mark stayed with the passenger, reassuring her that he wanted to help. She refused to answer and continued to look and behave extremely upset.
Fifteen minutes later the train arrived at Goodmayes, where the passenger got up to leave. Mark followed and saw the passenger walk towards the end of the platform, away from the gateline and exit.
Mark intervened and asked again how he could help? The passenger replied that she wished to kill herself; she had not got the university place she wanted and felt her father would be disappointed.
Mark asked what her father’s name was – it too was Mark. This hook formed a connection with the passenger, something that helped her to open up more. Mark listened carefully whilst continuing to update Control and call the Emergency Services. He guided the lady away from the platform edge to a place of safety on the platform, waiting together for assistance.
Mark’s alertness, patience, understanding, care and control of a difficult and challenging 40+ minute situation was exemplary. He quickly recognised this was not an ill passenger but a much more serious situation and he was able to make a real difference.“
“A great do again on Saturday night! You can be very pleased with the way it turned out - everyone seemed to have a really good time.”
Latest Twitter Updates
Follow us @RailStaffAwards