Sheffield station team wins High Sheriff Award after saving two customers’ lives

Staff from Sheffield station, who have been trained as community first responders by Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, have been presented with an award from the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire after helping to save the lives of two customers.

The team from East Midlands Railway, which is operated by Transport UK, were presented with the High Sheriff’s Award for outstanding citizenship and service to the community.

They were nominated by Sergeant Roy Percival of the British Transport Police after providing highly effective CPR on two separate occasions, saving the lives of customers who suffered sudden cardiac arrests at the station.

Steven Harding, Customer Service Officer at EMR, was involved in helping to provide CPR during one of the incidents.

He said: "I saw the training as something we could all do together as a group. We’re here for our passengers and for the community around the station, so it felt important to be prepared and know that, if we were ever called upon, we could step in and help.

"When the moment came, every minute counted - the training just clicked. You don’t think about it, you just go straight into action. There wasn’t time to be scared, you just had a job to do. Afterwards, I spoke to my wife - she’s a nurse, so she understood completely - and she was really proud. That meant a lot.”

The East Midlands Railway (EMR) wider team was also recognised for its commitment to the day-to-day safeguarding of vulnerable people and for undertaking vital life-saving training with Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Its dedication to identifying and calmly engaging with suicidal and highly distressed individuals on the station was also recognised.

In nominating the team, Sergeant Roy Percival said: “Over the past few months, the EMR team has demonstrated exceptional courage, compassion and professionalism far beyond the normal expectations of their railway duties.

“As well as helping vulnerable people, they have put their First Responder training into practice. In both cases, attending paramedics and doctors treating these patients have explicitly stated that, without the rapid and sustained intervention of the railway staff, the individuals would almost certainly not have survived. Thanks to the team’s actions, both patients were successfully resuscitated and are on the road to recovery.”

Pepe DiIasio, High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, said: “It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to recognise the courage and professionalism of this incredible team who stepped forward, in what was a fast-moving, extremely pressurised situation, to intervene, support and ultimately save the lives of others.”

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “I am incredibly proud of our Sheffield station team and the professionalism, compassion and calmness they show every day in often challenging circumstances. This award is a powerful recognition of their commitment to our customers.

“The team has willingly taken on additional training so they are prepared to respond in critical situations, and the fact that this has directly helped to save lives is extraordinary. I would like to thank them for their dedication, bravery and continued commitment to keeping people safe.”

Louisa Motsumi, Area Station Experience Manager at Sheffield for East Midlands Railway, said: “I’m delighted that the team here have received this award.

“To step up, put their training into practice, and save the lives of two people is incredible. We have a great team here, and they continually show their dedication to doing their very best for our customers.”

Kathryn Broadbent, Head of Events, Commercial Services and Community Resilience at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “We’re very proud to be working in partnership with the East Midlands Railway team at Sheffield station and delighted that they have been recognised with a High Sheriff’s Award.

"Their life-saving actions have had a hugely positive impact on individuals using the station and the wider community.”