Taxi Driver Online

Not sure if the highlighted remark below might be saying something about the whole male-female dynamic as regards some of the stuff I'm always wittering on about...

Or maybe saying something about it all at an, er, societal level. But certainly making a point of some kind as regards all that sort of stuff


Spalding’s Smart Cabs taxi drivers rescue man on the Winsover Road level crossing

https://www.lincsonline.co.uk/spalding/ ... n-9463596/

Two brave taxi drivers who ran on to a railway crossing to save a vulnerable man’s life are urging people to speak up about mental health.

Lance Osborne, 40, and a colleague from Spalding’s Smart Cabs, didn’t think twice before running into a potentially dangerous scenario.


Image: Lincs Online

At about 10.30pm on Friday April 17, Lance was driving in the direction of the town centre after dropping off a customer, when he parked up next to his colleague – who wishes to stay anonymous – in the layby opposite Aldi on Winsover Road.

A man who was sat close to the level crossing caught the two drivers’ attention and Lance decided to call 999 to express his concerns.

“I didn’t think it looked very good,” Lance said.

“They (the caller) took some details and said they would send someone out, but as I was still on the phone the train barriers came down and my friend said ‘OMG, he’s gone under and is laying face down in the middle of the train tracks’.

“I told the person on the phone that I’d have to put them in my pocket because I needed to run.”

Before having time to deliberate, the two taxi drivers rushed over to pull the man to safety – and within moments a train passed through.

After experiencing his own mental health conditions in previous years following the loss of his dad and best friend, Lance sympathised with the individual and reassured him there is support and help out there.

He said: “I sat with my arm around him telling him there is help out there. Just because you’re male doesn't mean you can’t get support.

“A few years ago I lost a best friend to suicide. I missed the signals and didn’t know he was struggling.

“I felt a bit guilty for that but I feel a lot better now that I’ve saved someone else from that heartache.

“The first stage is admitting that you need some help.”

The taxi drivers were commemorated by an anonymous Facebook user who published a ‘well done’ post in a public group chat – where others users described them as ‘brave’ and ‘honourable’.

Lance wants to remind others to reach out for support if they are struggling.

“It was a spur of the moment thing and we just wanted to save him, that was our main concern – we didn’t think about our own safety,” he added.

“Mental health is getting recognised a lot more but as men, we need to speak up a bit more.

“I’m just glad me and my friend were there to help.”

If you need urgent mental health support call 111 (NHS) or 999 for emergencies. For 24/7 confidential, free support call the Samaritans on 116 123.

You can also see your GP or self-refer for services dealing with anxiety and depression without visiting a doctor.

Something seems a bit off with the story because the layby where they say they parked ends just before the St Thomas road junction which is about 100 yards from that level crossing. Good on em for saving the man but they would have had to drive up to the barriers and trespass onto the track to do it.

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector