Staff at Sheffield station have received one of South Yorkshire’s highest civic honours after their swift, lifesaving actions saved the lives of two customers who suffered sudden cardiac arrests.
The East Midlands Railway (EMR) team — operated by Transport UK — were awarded the High Sheriff’s Award for Outstanding Citizenship and Service to the Community after being nominated by Sergeant Roy Percival of the British Transport Police.
The recognition follows two separate incidents in which EMR staff delivered highly effective CPR, directly contributing to the survival of two passengers.
“Every minute counted — the training just clicked”
Steven Harding, Customer Service Officer at EMR, played a key role in one of the rescues.
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 wider EMR Sheffield team was also praised for its daily safeguarding work and its partnership with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust to undertake vital lifesaving training. Their calm, skilled intervention with vulnerable and distressed individuals at the station was highlighted as a major part of their contribution.
“Far beyond the normal expectations of their railway duties”
In his nomination, 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.”
High Sheriff praises “courage and professionalism”
Pepe DiIasio, High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, added:
“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.”
Leadership recognition from EMR and Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at EMR, 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 EMR, 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, added:
“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.”
Image credits: Network Rail
