Gavin Burns

Said the following about Phil Ilsley:

“At 2125hrs on Sunday 21st June 2015 whilst taking part in a busy weekend working on the Crossrail Project, a gang of four SSL (now Alstom) testers were deploying from Langley Depot to their worksite. Whilst driving down Langley Road in Slough, the first SSL van noticed a member of the public on the pavement crouched down clearly in some discomfort.

The other SSL van also stopped and the team provided immediate first aid to the 35 year old, who was clearly in pain clutching at his chest and complaining of pain in his left arm. The SSL team made him comfortable and asked relevant questions about his health etc., whilst another member of the team contacted the emergency services. A quick response vehicle was on the scene within minutes. Once on the scene, the paramedic took over and the member of the public received further treatment before suffering a heart attack.

Whilst the paramedic carried out CPR on the individual, the SSL (Alstom) team were on hand to provide assistance and also directed traffic on the very busy road until an ambulance arrived. The individual was eventually resuscitated and taken by ambulance to hospital.

The SSL (Alstom) testers involved were taken aback by the event, but were able to continue work, where they successfully completed their schedule of works before being called out to rectify a fault which was affecting the running of the operational railway.

The testers stated that despite there being a number of pedestrians about at the time; nobody was prepared to assist the individual. It is without doubt that the quick intervention and actions of the team prevented the individual’s condition from becoming much more serious.

The team work(ed) on the Crossrail Western Project, Phil Ilsley, Marc Liggins, Chris Birkin and Richard Donnelly respectively.“