A rail worker at Ealing Broadway Station in London has saved 29 people from taking their own lives since 2015.
According to MyLondon, Rizwan Javed, 30, has made a profound impact on commuters at the station in West London.
Speaking to the media outlet, he said he won the Samaritans Lifesaver Award in 2018 which recognises people who have used their talking and listening skills to save lives.
He recalled one incident where he helped a woman who entered the station.
He said: “I was on a night shift one day and a young lady walked in. As I was going back to my office, I noticed the same person looking distressed. These were signs that rang alarm bells for me and I had to react quickly.
“Initially I phoned the signalmen who control our line and I got a line block in place. [I then] ran over to the individual [and] made conversation – it wasn’t easy initially, it was hard to engage.
“She had various thoughts in her head but eventually I talked her into a place of safety. After communicating with her for an hour, I called the British Transport Police who were going to come and assist her and provide support.
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“We contacted her family who came down and were very supportive. Together all of the parties involved ensured she was safe and got the help she needed to potentially get back on track with her life and achieve all of the things she is capable of.”
Rizwan made such an impact on the woman’s life that she thanked him a week later.
He said: “I noticed her from a distance and she ran over and said ‘thank you’ to me, just for being there that night. It meant the world to me that she was ok and doing well for herself.”
In partnership with Network Rail, the Samaritans has trained 22,000 rail staff and British Transport Police officers with the skills to help someone at risk of suicide on the railway.
Rizwan said: “Having this training quite early in my career gave me the confidence and awareness on how to identify vulnerable people and approach a vulnerable situation. The Samaritans has helped me help other people.”
