An East Coast customer service assistant who tried in vain to save the life of a seriously ill passenger at York station has been named as Britain’s top station employee in the rail network’s national staff awards.
Richard Millbank received a glass trophy and £1,000 cash in Birmingham at the fifth national Railstaff Awards, held each year to recognise rail workers who go the extra mile to help passengers.
Richard was busy in his role as information co-ordinator on Sunday, 12 June 2011, when he received a call for a qualified First Aider to help an elderly man who had collapsed following a heart attack in the subway beneath the north end of the station.
Moments later, Richard was on the scene, trying to help the man, who was unconscious and not breathing, while comforting his family who were naturally frightened and concerned for his welfare.
Richard attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and used one of the defibrillators kept on the station to try to restart the man’s heart following his cardiac arrest.
Ambulance crews arrived within minutes and took the man to York District Hospital by ambulance – however, Richard’s efforts were sadly in vain as the man did not survive.
His family returned to York station a few weeks later to thank Richard personally for his efforts to save him.
East Coast’s Station Manager at York, Phil Crow, said:
“The judges were clearly impressed by Richard’s calm and comforting approach to a very difficult situation.
“Richard is a caring and very helpful member of the team at York station and we’re delighted that the dedication he shows in helping passengers every day has been deservedly recognised at a national level.”
Richard was nominated for the award by his colleagues at York station.
All nominations appeared on the dedicated awards website, where rail workers and passengers cast votes to elect a shortlist of ten staff members in each category. A panel of four judges drawn from senior rail industry professionals then selected a winner.
Judges looked for rail workers who were approachable, dedicated, determined and professional in their role on the railway.
