Helen Yorke

Said the following about David Plank:

“Mr Plank was on duty at a signal box, when he received information that there was a male standing on the tracks in front of a train near to the station. Mr Plank took the decision to self-deploy to that station. Mr Plank was shortly after advised that an emergency switch off of power had been requested. Mr Plank arrived on scene approximately eleven minutes after receiving the information about the male. Upon arrival, Mr Plank used the live line testers to confirm power was off and started to walk down the platform. He called Wessex control again for an update and then saw the male in the cess by the train approximately 3-400 metres away. He called the signal box again and it was confirmed an ESO was in place. As he was walking towards the male and the stopped train he again tested that the current was off. Mr Plank arrived at the site and spoke to the male, asking him if he was lost, at which point the male looked at him and Mr Plank noted that he was extremely intoxicated and agitated. Mr Plank thought the easiest way to get him back was to get him on the train, however the male started to walk back towards the station and was compliant yet not saying much except he wanted to be hit by a train. Mr Plank continued to try and engage the male without success, offering to get him more beer as his current beer can was running out which appeared to be agitating the male further. The walk back took some time as the male constantly tried to sit down but Mr Plank kept convincing him to carry on and managed to get him onto the station platform via the platform end ramp.

An SWR station assistant was clearing the platform in front as much as possible to aid the male’s exit, however about half way down the platform the male decided to try to jump down on the track. At this point Mr Plank pulled him upwards by linking his arm under the male’s shoulder. The male then started to resist as Mr Plank tried to escort him towards the station exit.

Shortly afterwards BTP arrived on scene and the male was assisted into the station lobby and kept away from the other passengers.

When the incident train later came into platform 2, Mr Plank then showed the presence of mind to check on the welfare of the driver who was shaken up by the incident. The male carried on resisting and BTP requested an ambulance as he was trying to self-harm. The male was then treated by the ambulance service and taken from the station to a place of safety.

Outcome of Incident (EG Sentence imposed):

The male involved in this incident was removed by police to a place of safety. It is believed that the actions of the male were an attempt to harm himself, either deliberately or recklessly.

Mr Plank acted promptly to ensure that the male did not come to further harm. He was unaware of the surrounding circumstances of the incident and acted without consideration of any risk to himself to provide immediate assistance to the male. He showed presence of mind to contact the NR control room to advise of his actions, confirm no power was present in the rails and attempt to move the male to a place of safety. He also risked personal injury by intervening in an area where there were slips, trips and falls risks present when removing and dealing with the male, as well as the dangers posed by the male himself.

Mr Plank also showed considerable compassion towards the male, offering assistance, attempting to establish rapport and ensuring he was engaged with continually until the arrival of emergency services assistance.“