Two bus inspectors, both working for Stagecoach Manchester, have been recognised for life-saving actions in the line of duty.
In two separate incidents, Inspectors Steven Delaney and Darren Gould performed actions which saw them save the lives of passersby.
In the first incident, which happened on 17 August, a man collapsed with a heart attack at Ashton Interchange. Steven (pictured, above right), Acting Inspector at the station, performed CPR, called an ambulance, and arranged for a defibrillator. Due to his actions, paramedics were able to resuscitate the heart attack victim.
“You don’t have time to stop and think when you see someone unconscious on the floor,” Steven says. “As soon as I saw him, instinct took over and I ran over and did whatever I could do to help him. We really thought he had died there at the scene so when I got the call later on to say that he had survived I was over the moon.”
A second incident on 31 August took place when a woman informed Inspector Darren Gould that she was experiencing breathing difficulty. Darren called an ambulence, but shortly after the woman fell unconscious. Darren performed life-saving CPR until the ambulance arrived.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a passenger, a friend or a relative, if someone is as unwell as that lady was, then you’ve just got to do everything that you can to help them,” Darren says. “Thankfully she survived what was a really scary experience. I’m just glad that I was there and able to help her.”
Both men have been recognised with the operator’s Star of the Month award.
“It was with great pleasure that I was able to award the accolade of Star of the Month to these two truly outstanding members of our Manchester team,” says Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester, Lee Wasnidge. “Steven and Darren acted calmly, professionally and with dignity. Their quick thinking saved the lives of these seriously ill people and both were rightly praised by the ambulance crews on scene and passengers nearby.
“Well done and thank you to Steven and Darren; you both thoroughly deserve this award.”