Media centre

Monday 4 Apr 2005

ARTICLE – DEALING WITH SUICIDE ON THE RAILWAY

Region & Route:

More than 200 people make suicide attempts on the railway each year. This not only has a devastating effect on their families, but also the rail industry workers who witness the incident and deal with the aftermath. Following a sudden rise in fatalities, Network Rail’s Operation and Customer Services team in Preston has been looking at ways of reducing the number of suspected suicides on the railway. Since the end of December there have been six suspected suicide attempts in the Preston area: three at Lancaster South; one in Chorley; one in Penrith; and one in Preston. Although there is usually an increase in fatalities from Christmastime until mid January, the number of incidents is much higher this year than in previous years. Robbie Burns, Network Rail’s route director, said: “Every year more than 200 people make suicide attempts on the railway. These suicide attempts not only cause considerable distress to their friends and families, but they have a devastating affect on passengers and the railway staff and members of the emergency services who deal with the tragedy.  “Unfortunately it is very difficult to prevent suicides on the railway. The rail industry can identify existing ‘hot-spots’ and take action in these areas, like putting up fencing, but people who are determined to kill themselves will find somewhere else to go.” Statistics show that around a quarter of suicides on the railway are from station platforms. Network Rail has improved fencing throughout the north west region, as part of a fencing programme that is due to end this year. During the programme all the fences in the region area are assessed to ensure they met current safety standards and, where required, fences were replaced. In 2004/05 approximately £1.5 million will be spent on fencing renewals in the Preston area alone. An action group has been established in the Preston area by Network Rail, the local British Transport Police and the train operating companies. The group is looking at ways of reducing vandalism and suicides in the area. The first meeting was held in November and the second meeting was held last month. A driver’s experience Northern driver, Paul Corry, says most drivers have considered the possibility of being involved in a fatality and unfortunately it is now considered an ‘occupational hazard’ by a large majority. He always felt it would happen to him but imagined it would be on a dark and stormy night in a rural location and not on a crisp autumn morning in a city suburb, as turned out to be the case . “I jumped with fright and time seemed to stand still as I made an emergency brake application and blew my horn frantically,” said Paul.  “I hoped the person would have second thoughts and leap out of the way, but I realised that was not going to be the case and the train wasn’t going to stop quickly enough to avoid a collision.”             After an incident like this, trains further down the line are stopped immediately.  If possible, the train driver will leave his cab to assess the condition of the person. In some cases, suicide attempts are not successful and people are left with horrific injuries – many lose limbs. Sadly, in Paul’s case, the person he hit was killed outright. Paul said: “Nothing I was ever taught could have prepared me for what I was about to witness, the sight of a mutilated body strewn over the tracks.” When Paul got back to his home station he gave statements to the police and his employers. He says it was then that he began to doubt himself and question whether there was more he could have done to prevent the incident. Over the next few days he found himself becoming depressed and he found it difficult to sleep. When he did fall asleep he would have nightmares about the incident and he began to doubt he would ever want or feel able to return to work. Paul sought the help of a counsellor after it became apparent his feelings were not subsiding. He saw a counsellor for a couple of months and eventually he began to feel better and able to return to work. He said: “In the first few months after the incident, I knew the enjoyment of my work had been reduced and felt uneasy when driving late at night.” “I felt sure that another incident would happen to me. I had to pass the location of the accident each day and it was impossible not to remember what I was involved in a few months earlier.” Eventually Paul gave evidence before a Coroner and jury so that the cause of death could be determined. He says, although he was accompanied and supported by his manager, he found the whole incident very upsetting. The jury eventually found it was a case of accidental death. The family had disagreed the deceased would have killed themselves, but could offer no explanation as to why they might have been on the railway. A railway worker’s view A Mobile Operations Manager will often be the first person on the scene if the location of an incident is in a remote area and not easily accessible. Jim Wilkinson, who has been a Mobile Operations Manager (MOM) for 10 years and works in the Burnley area, said: “As you approach the location of an incident your heart always starts to beat faster, you don’t know what you’re going to find, or what state they will be in – and you’re always dreading the thought that it might be a child. The MOM will advise the Coroner and wait for the paramedics to arrive and officially pronounce the person dead.  The British Transport Police (BTP) will also be informed so they can make a decision on whether the death looks suspicious, or a likely suicide. Undertakers remove the remains. A fingertip search is then done on the track to retrieve any personal items. This needs to be done quickly  to avoid distress to the family, who will often be quick to arrive at the scene. Dealing with fatalities is a difficult part of a MOM’s job and a certain degree of detachment is required. Network Rail staff are offered counselling after an incident. Jim says the hardest element for him is when the case reaches the Coroner’s court and the deceased becomes a person with a family left behind. He said: “When you go onto the railway you distance yourself from the body but when you go to the Coroner’s court you learn about the person, their life and their loved ones. “When someone kills themselves on the railway it’s a great tragedy for all involved, and the aftermath is horrific. You can try to stop kids getting on to the track but it is difficult to stop someone who’s determined to kill themselves on the railway.” Jim says he is lucky because he has never felt great stress from dealing with incidents of this nature and has never needed to take time off work. He believes train drivers suffer a lot more from such incidents. He said: “The first incident you attend is shocking but then you convince yourself if someone is going to do it, they are going to do it. I am lucky it has never affected my home life but I am sure this would change if I ever had to attend to the death of a child.”