Transport For London Life-Saver
1700. Rizwan Javed
Rizwan Javed, from London, is a Transport For London worker who has saved the lives of 29 people at Ealing Broadway station after training with Samaritans to spot the signs of vulnerable people who may be contemplating taking their own lives.
Rizwan is a station assistant at Ealing Broadway station and took part in the Samaritans training course in 2015. Since then, he has been required to put his training into practice on multiple occasions, identifying commuters who may be at risk of taking their own lives and using the power of talking to distract individuals and help guide them towards a place of safety.
In a personal letter to Rizwan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“Every day I take a moment to say thank you to someone for their service to others by recognising them as a Point of Light.
“You are a true point of light and comfort for people in their darkest moments. With the power of conversation and compassion, you have helped others in the most profound way.
“Let me also thank you for your continued work during the pandemic. Alongside your colleagues at TfL, you kept the nation going over the last eighteen months and we owe you a huge debt of gratitude.”
Rizwan said:
“I would like to thank the Prime Minister for acknowledging my work and believing that I’m worthy of this award.
“I am truly honoured to be sharing a platform alongside others who have also received this award for their personal achievements.
“I hope this platform of recognition continues to inspire others to also make a difference in this world.
“Whether it be in a working environment or general day to day. No one deserves to suffer in silence.
“We can all do our little bit to implement the change we want to see in this world.”