The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Rail Person of the Year

Cindy Knowles

Said the following about Alex Powell:

“I would like to nominate Alex for Rail Person of the Year as he went above and beyond in saving a male from life threatening injuries.

Alex is a remarkable Rail Enforcement Officer and has been a welcomed addition to the department, he is calm under pressure and is always professional even when faced with a serious incident such as on this day.

Alex had been a Rail Enforcement Officer for 14 months when he had an evening he will not forget.

On New Year’s Eve 2020 Rail Enforcement Officers had been informed that a group of troublesome youths had been causing issues at Oxted station so they decided to take the REO vehicle and visit the station.

Alex was at Oxted station when he heard cry for help, he turned around to be faced with a male who was holding his neck, and his wife was shouting that he had been stabbed. Alex sat the male down and upon moving the males hand from his neck saw a large slash across his neck and blood beginning to pour out.

Alex immediately began to administer emergency first aid, asking the station staff to retrieve a full first aid kit whilst getting the man to recount what had happened.

Alex thought on his feet and asked the male for descriptions of the offenders as his body worn camera was on and if the male was to die from this attack this would be a first account for BTP.

Alex packed the wound and tried to stem the bleeding all whilst talking to him to keep the male conscious, the male was talking but was losing quite a lot of blood.

Alex continued to stem the bleeding for approximately 20 mins when a Surrey Police Officer arrived who began to assist Alex, during this time the male lost consciousness and they had to place him on the floor and raise his legs. Alex also was dealing with the man’s wife as she wanted to be close to him but Alex had to ensure she gave them space to help her husband.

About 10 mins Armed Police Medics arrived and applied anti-clotting bandages whilst Alex kept an eye on his stats.

When the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) arrived Alex and the Police passed over his care to them.

Alex is a very hard working and competent REO and a pleasure to work with, he is very well liked within the teams and with passengers. On this evening he showed calmness under extreme pressure and was told by the medics that this male would not have survived had it not been for his intervention. The man has since turned up at the station to thank them for saving his life and has expressed he would like to meet Alex.“