Northern Rail Guard death

[TOCDriver]

Mod Note: at the time of writing cause of death has not been confirmed by the coronor, please post sensitively

A guard based at Manchester Victoria died last Thursday at Leyland, Lancs, under an oncoming Virgin Trains service whilst on duty. This happened almost 5 years to the day when a similar incident happened in almost exactly the same location. Devastating is not the word, and I would like to offer my sincere condolences to all those involved and affected. Heart breaking.

 

[507 001]

Oh. My.

How awful.

 

[physics34]

very sad ...and condolences to everyone involved

 

[DasLunatic]

very sad ...and condolences to everyone involved

Indeed. I only hope that the driver and folk on the platform are OK after what must've been a very disturbing matter.

RIP anonymous Northern guard 19xx - 2015

 

[the sniper]

Unbelievable. How tragic. Thoughts with everyone involved.

 

[Bantamzen]

Oh my goodness. How tragic, my thoughts are with all those affected. So very sad. :cry:

 

[Geeves]

Very sad incident indeed. Shocked all of us who worked with him, you never can tell!

 

[kevconnor]

My full heart felt thoughts and condolences with everyone at Northern and this poor chaps family and friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

 

[Bodiddly]

Tragic, absolutely horrendous for all involved. What this does though is bolster the fact that people are not thinking of anything else apart from their own personal hell. A guard would know how this affects rail staff and would not have chose this particular method of ending his life if he had any thoughts for anyone else.
We all work alongside each other and we have a duty of care towards one another. If we have any concerns about our colleagues we need to highlight them, no matter how we may feel we are meddling in someone else's life.
Such a sad thing to hear whenever anybody commits suicide.

 

[causton]

Just highlights how bad some people's situations are that they would do that. 99% of train staff would say they would never take their life on the railway, but when your mind goes to those dark places yourself...


Rest in peace, colleague.

 

[TCDB]

What an unbelievably insensitive post.

Not only do you have colleagues on here reading this but also the potential for family members too.

One can only presume you were actually there to confirm exactly what happened and thought it best to share it on an open forum.

 

[tony6499]

Had a guard from my depot do this many years ago, turned out he was suffering from immense outside personal problems and even worse none of his colleagues knew so we could try and help.

Sympathies to everyone involved and the family of the guard concerned

 

[najaB]

What an unbelievably insensitive post.

Did I miss something?

 

[Jonfun]

What an unbelievably insensitive post.

Not only do you have colleagues on here reading this but also the potential for family members too.

One can only presume you were actually there to confirm exactly what happened and thought it best to share it on an open forum.

I don't think anything that's been said is insensitive. For some people death is a difficult subject to approach; especially where it concerns someone choosing to take their own life. Nevertheless, my personal view is that if people are open and willing to talk about the subjects of depression and suicide, then that breaks down one of the barriers for someone who is in such a state of mind to be open about their feelings. It's not my position to judge whether the feelings are justified, or right or wrong, and sometimes no matter what help you give someone, their feelings won't change. But for some depression is a reaction to a short term problem, and if we don't shy away from talking about it all then we do stand a chance in helping our friends, families or colleagues out of these situations.

My thoughts to his friends, family, and colleagues over at Vic.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Absolutely tragic. I totally understand. I have been there - though in my case it was a huge load of pills washed down with loads of booze. Anyway, years later I am fine and lived to tell the tale. Not many understand. It is so tragic. I do feel also for the driver and any observers too as traumatic for them as well as the family.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

What an unbelievably insensitive post.

Not only do you have colleagues on here reading this but also the potential for family members too.

One can only presume you were actually there to confirm exactly what happened and thought it best to share it on an open forum.

In what respect, has anything disrespectful been posted or said?

 

[bnm]

I echo the sentiments of others following this tragic event.

I think though we shouldn't be referring to it as suicide yet though. That's for the coroner to decide.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Well said.

 

[IanXC]

I echo the sentiments of others following this tragic event.

I think though we shouldn't be referring to it as suicide yet though. That's for the coroner to decide.

As per the mod note added to the opening post, the above sums up the situation well. Please post appropriately and respectfully.

My thoughts are with the individuals family, friends and colleagues in what I know is a very difficult time.

 

[TOCDriver]

As per the mod note added to the opening post, the above sums up the situation well. Please post appropriately and respectfully.

My thoughts are with the individuals family, friends and colleagues in what I know is a very difficult time.

I respect that but I know full well what went on and I'll be telling the coroner so.

 

[theironroad]

While it may not be a suicide and it's all very well saying wait for the coroners verdict, which will be in months, it is being reported that it was non-suspicious which in media terms, if not a legal opinion, means suicide.

It is a very raw time for the depot concerned and the wider railway staff, especially front line train crew for which this is an occupational hazard on a day to day basis, and we should all post with that in mind.

However, When a little time has settled, it is however right to talk about why people, usually men, are being driven to end it all like this. if men have problems, whether debt, bullying, issues at home or work, It is better to seek help, not bottle things up. There are plenty of organisations, for whatever issue, who will be happy to try and help people and show them there is a way out and a brighter future.

Yes, now it is raw, but a conversation must be had.

 

[bb21]

I respect that but I know full well what went on and I'll be telling the coroner so.

I think that would be most constructive.

Yes, now it is raw, but a conversation must be had.

You are perfectly at liberty to start a separate thread for any issue you may wish to discuss.

Very tragic indeed, whatever the causes. Like others, my thoughts are with the family of the individual concerned.

 

[PermitToTravel]

how very sad - I can only echo what everyone else has said about best wishes

While it may not be a suicide and it's all very well saying wait for the coroners verdict, which will be in months, it is being reported that it was non-suspicious which in media terms, if not a legal opinion, means suicide.

Deaths caused by workplace accidents, too, are often reported as being non-suspicious.

 

[Strathclyder]

What a horrible tragedy. Whatever the exact circumstances are, my heart-felt condolences go out to the guard's family, friends and colleagues at this unbelievably difficult time.

 

[kentman]

I echo the sentiments of others following this tragic event.

I think though we shouldn't be referring to it as suicide yet though. That's for the coroner to decide.

Having served as foreman on a coroner's jury, which included a death on railway, they are investigated going to a jury when required. The witness were all treated with the up most sensitivity when questioned. The of verdict of suicide is also not given, the words are "He killed himself whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed" as I had to say on that particular occasion.

 

[Starmill]

I overheard some staff discussing this on Thursday decided it'd be best to pretend I hadn't. I didn't really believe it anyway because it sounds so horrific. It's awful to hear it was more than a rumour. How terrible.

 

[bluenoxid]

The of verdict of suicide is also not given, the words are "He killed himself whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed" as I had to say on that particular occasion.

Good. I was really impacted by someone who put forward that we should remove 'commit suicide' from the language. It's not a crime and it's not something that someone is in the right frame of mind to make a choice regardless of the outcome.

It's a personal tragedy for a number of people today and I pass on my deepest condolences.

 

[ungreat]

Really saddened to hear this. Heartfelt condolences from a driver. I've done almost 30 years in the job and shocks like this never get easier

 

[RAPC]

My sympathies and thoughts are with the person and their family.

This is my local station and the staff there had mentioned the situation, but didn't mention it was a member of staff. Very sad indeed.

 

[Robertj21a]

While it may not be a suicide and it's all very well saying wait for the coroners verdict, which will be in months, it is being reported that it was non-suspicious which in media terms, if not a legal opinion, means suicide.

It is a very raw time for the depot concerned and the wider railway staff, especially front line train crew for which this is an occupational hazard on a day to day basis, and we should all post with that in mind.

However, When a little time has settled, it is however right to talk about why people, usually men, are being driven to end it all like this. if men have problems, whether debt, bullying, issues at home or work, It is better to seek help, not bottle things up. There are plenty of organisations, for whatever issue, who will be happy to try and help people and show them there is a way out and a brighter future.

Yes, now it is raw, but a conversation must be had.

Couldn't agree more, there needs to be far more open discussion on such matters. Whether or not this poor chap took his own life, we should all do all we can to avoid anything similar recurring.

I agree that a separate thread would be helpful.