A passenger who suffered a cardiac arrest on board a train has been reunited with the rail staff whose quick thinking helped save his life.
Ian Drewry, 69, returned to Reading station on Thursday to meet colleagues from Great Western Railway (GWR) who were involved in the emergency response when he collapsed last year.
Mr Drewry had been travelling from Swindon to London Paddington on 14 September when he went into cardiac arrest as the train approached Reading station.
A fellow passenger activated the emergency alarm, bringing the train to a halt. GWR train manager Veronika Rogers went to investigate and found Mr Drewry not breathing.
By chance, a doctor was also on board and immediately began CPR while another passenger called 999.
Ms Rogers alerted the driver and initiated emergency procedures, ensuring the train continued into Reading so paramedics could reach the scene as quickly as possible.
Working alongside Network Rail’s control team in Swindon and signallers across the Thames Valley, staff ensured the train was held at the platform to allow emergency services to board without delay.
Dispatchers Jack McIntyre and Michael Lamb retrieved a defibrillator from the station and cleared the platform to give paramedics space to work.
Mr Drewry was later taken to hospital, where he made a full recovery.
Speaking at the reunion, Mr Drewry said he had not realised how many people were involved in saving his life.
“This has been truly amazing – I just didn’t realise the amount of people involved on that Sunday afternoon last September,” he said.
“It’s so important to come back and say thank you. I would not be here today if it wasn’t for all those who helped me on the day; the platform staff, the train manager, the train driver and all those who coordinated to get the help I needed.”
Ms Rogers said she was relieved to learn he had survived.
“I could already see a doctor tending to the gentleman, so I quickly called through to the driver to ask that the train was moved on to Reading,” she said.
“I’m just so happy to hear that he survived and I’m very happy to meet him. It’s all about teamwork – everyone who got involved did their bit to help save his life.”
Mr McIntyre, who had only recently qualified as a dispatcher at the time, said: “The adrenaline just kicked in. It’s great to learn that he survived.”
Representatives from the South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Air Ambulance also attended the reunion.
Karen Watts, Network Rail’s station delivery manager for Reading, said staff were “incredibly proud” of the teamwork shown that day.
“It was fantastic to meet again in much happier circumstances,” she said. “We wish Ian all the very best in his continued recovery.”
