A mother has praised a conductor working for train operator Northern for his quick reactions when he helped her baby during a medical emergency.

One day in January, the baby’s mother, Jane Griffiths, with her partner and six-month-old son Austin, was travelling from Knottingley to Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire when she realised something was wrong.
Jane found a tube fitted to drain excess fluid from her son’s brain had become loose and was leaking.

After stepping in to reassure the couple, Conductor James Hallett provided them with some bandages to try to stop the leak and a foil blanket to keep the baby warm.

The parents then contacted Leeds Children’s Hospital, who advised them to take Austin to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Getting off the train at Leeds station, they took Austin to Leeds Children’s Hospital for treatment and, after undergoing several procedures, he is now recovering at home.

After the incident, Jane contacted Northern to thank James for his assistance has nominated him for a Pride of Britain Award.

Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern in Yorkshire, commented that the company is incredibly proud of James for stepping up to help the family deal with a difficult and distressing situation.

Incidents like these show that its conductors are not just there to check tickets, but can provide support and assistance to millions of passengers every year, working hard to keep them safe.

“James didn’t have to do what he did that morning, but I’m so grateful that he did. He couldn’t have done any more. I was panicking, my partner was panicking, and the baby was crying, but James calmed us down so we could get ourselves together and ring the hospital. He then ran up the carriage to get the first aid kit and a blanket to keep my baby warm. It was very reassuring. Austin,s home now, he’s settled and he’s healing well, but if James hadn’t reacted so quickly, it could’ve been a very different situation. We really wanted to show our appreciation for James and we thought rocking up at the station with a box of chocolates for him just wouldn’t cut it.”

Jane Griffiths