Benjamin works as a gateline assistant for Southern. Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, he’s sharing his story after saving somebody’s life on the railway.
I had just started my late shift when I spotted a man in his mid-50s leaving the station through the gateline. He initially seemed fine, but when he reappeared an hour later there were clear signs of intoxication.
When he approached the gateline, he asked if I was a security guard, which rang alarm bells because I’ve never been asked that before, so I stopped what I was doing to keep an eye on him. Once he was on the platform, he suddenly went down onto the tracks. Without hesitating, I put in an emergency call to shut all lines into the station.
As railway staff, we are given training on how to handle these delicate situations, so I put this into practice by approaching the man calmly and urging him to leave the tracks while keeping myself at a safe distance. I repeatedly asked him to get back onto the platform, which he didn’t acknowledge until I upped the level of my voice slightly to break his negative thought cycle. He then listened and finally came up to the platform.
Unfortunately, he refused to leave the station and quickly boarded a train to another destination, so I alerted the British Transport Police (BTP) and Southern Railway’s Travel Safe Officers, who took over and supported him further.
A couple of days later, the man came back to thank me for saving his life. This was the first time I’d made a lifesaving intervention, so it was quite emotional knowing I’d helped him see another day.
Benjamin was able to empathise with this man after experiencing his own mental health struggles as a teenager.
I was able to put myself in his shoes because I previously suffered from depression when I was a teenager, due to various situations which saw me at my lowest. Having this experience helped me when talking to this man because I’ve been there and understand that we all need help sometimes.
The training provided by Southern and the Samaritans is brilliant because it gave me an insight into the different situations I could face and how to stay safe in a high-pressure situation.
It taught me how to spot a vulnerable person and the best way to connect with them, so I can guide them to safety. It can be difficult approaching someone who is risking their life, however sometimes it only takes a simple conversation to turn things around.
Southern Railway is encouraging members of the public to look out for one another when travelling. If people spot concerning behaviour, they can text the BTP on 6106, or call 999 if it is an emergency. People can also call Samaritans anytime on 116 123.