A machine driver in South Wales has been recommended for an award by colleagues for his role in saving a would-be suicide.
Terry Batchelor, who works from the Quattro Group’s Cwmbran depot, had just completed a delivery of materials to Network Rail engineers on track between Barry and Rhoose stations when, on his way back to the access point, he saw the woman sitting on the high wall of the Porthkerry Viaduct.
Says Terry, “When the headlights highlighted someone sitting on the wall of the viaduct, I thought it was a bit strange so I stopped the vehicle and asked my machine controller David Davis to get out and see if he could find out what was going on.
“After a few minutes I could see that he hadn’t been able to make much headway, so I went over myself.”
Terry realised the woman sitting on the wall was very upset and had clearly been drinking.
After a few more minutes of trying to talk the woman down, Mr Batchelor at last was able to provoke a response.
“She told me she really wanted a cigarette,” he said. “I told her I was happy to give her one of mine, but that she would have to climb down from the wall as I am scared of heights and couldn’t climb up to her.
“It was the only thing I could think of to say to get her down, and it worked, as she came down from the wall and allowed us to lead her over to the trailer.”
Mr Batchelor and Mr Davis were then able to settle her on the back of the trailer, at which point he attempted to contact the emergency services but was unable to make contact due to bad telephone reception.
It was then that he made the decision to remove the woman from the scene and attempt to get help further down the track.
“I know it is against safety procedures to drive with anyone on the back of the trailer, but in the circumstances my only priority was to get her to safety,” he said.
“I left her sitting on the back with David and very slowly drove to the access point where I was able to get help.”
Local police later revealed that the woman was in fact a registered missing person, and that a large search and rescue team had been combing the area looking for her.
A police helicopter had been employed to try and locate her, as well as the Railway Police being notified that there was potentially a suicidal person on the track.
“We had noticed the helicopter, but had presumed that it was something to do with the nearby Cardiff Airport”, admits Mr Batchelor. “I’m just happy that we were able to help with the rescue and that she was ok.”
The Quattro Group Managing Director John Murphy said, “We are all very proud of the initiative and compassion displayed in such difficult circumstances.
“With this in mind, we have decided to nominate Terry Batchelor for Rail Infrastructure Person of the Year at this year’s RailStaff Awards – a worthy nomination for someone who truly went above and beyond the call of duty.”
