The 'gut feeling' that led to train conductor stepping in to save passenger

A 'gut feeling' led to a train conductor stepping in to help save a passenger's life. Naheed Asif was working on a Northern train bound for Manchester Piccadilly when he saw a woman get on board.

The 47-year-old immediately noticed that the passenger did not seem well and urgently needed help. "When she walked onto the train, I knew something was not right and I needed to check on her," said Mr Asif.

"It was a gut feeling. I said I didn’t need to check her ticket, I just wanted to see if she was okay." Mr Asif, who is trained in first aid, alerted the driver on the Crewe to Manchester service last month.

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He brought the train to a stop at Cheadle Hulme and the line was blocked while Mr Asif contacted the emergency services. As the situation unfolded, the woman's condition began to deteriorate.

But Mr Asif followed instructions from the call handler and provided assistance until paramedics arrived on the scene. He said: “I knew she needed medical attention and we had to get the paramedics to her straight away because I had never seen this before, even after previously working in the airline industry for 20 years.

“It was a team effort as my driver assisted me while I spoke to control and 999.” Once paramedics arrived, they took the woman to hospital for treatment.

A relative of the passenger later got in touch with Northern to thank Mr Asif for his swift intervention - adding that it may have saved her life. Mr Asif is one of more than 1,400 conductors employed by Northern to keep customers safe, as well as checking their tickets.

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