A Cambridgeshire rail worker who saved a man's life has put her quick thinking down to her suicide awareness training. 

Wendy Davidson, a station assistant for Great Northern, used her training to 'talk down' a man who said he wanted to take his own life. 

The 56-year-old is sharing her story ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 and encourages members of the public to look out for one another when travelling.

Wendy, 56, said: “I was on shift helping a customer plan their journey when a man suddenly walked past me and climbed down onto the tracks. He had been drinking a lot of alcohol and said he wanted take his own life.

“I instantly put in an emergency call to block lines running into the station and knew I had to try and de-escalate the situation. As railway staff, we are given training on how to handle these delicate situations, so I put this into practise by approaching the man calmly and starting a conversation.

“He was very quiet and told me a lot had gone wrong in his personal life. I tried to break him out of the negative thought cycle by saying ‘this isn’t the solution, you’ve got so much to live for’."

With the help of a passenger, Wendy chatted to the man before the British Transport Police arrived and took over. 

She said: “A year on from the incident and I’m still so relieved to have been in the right place at the right time.”

Wendy, who lives in East Cambridgeshire, said suicide prevention training at work has helped increase her confidence when it comes to making lifesaving interventions.

She added: “I’ve worked in the rail industry for nine years and the training provided by Great Northern, as well as Samaritans, always comes into play in situations like these.

"The training, along with your instinct, helps you spot signs of vulnerability and provides helpful tips on getting someone to safety. It can be daunting to see someone risk their life in front of you, but sometimes it just takes a conversation to turn things around.”

If you spot concerning behaviour, text the BTP on 61016, or call 999 if it is an emergency.

INFO: www.samaritans.org; or call: 116 123; or email: jo@samaritans.org.