Train stopped just metres away from teenager lying on tracks in Mansfield

Nottinghamshire police officers managed to stop a train just metres away from where a 19-year-old woman was lying across the tracks. Torches were flashed at the moving train to alert the driver during the incident at 6.45pm on October 13 near Mansfield railway station.

Police had been called to a report of a concern for safety and saw the 19-year-old walking along the train tracks. Officers tried to engage with the woman but she refused to come down and after the train stopped, PC Harry Stevenson walked along an 18-inch wall to communicate with the teenager.

PC Stevenson, who had only been in the force for six months, helped the teenager onto the wall. Colleagues including PC Abbie Shetliffe, PC Jo Prince, PC Dan Gilbert and PC Phil McCormack then mounted the wall, which sat over a 20ft drop.

All the officers managed to bring the 19-year-old to safety and she was eventually sent to the King's Mill Hospital. Sergeant Colin Jones, from Mansfield response team, said: "Officers called to this incident provided an exemplary service, not only stopping a moving train but also putting their own safety at risk to ensure she came to no further harm.

"Quick-thinking officers linked themselves together by looping their arms through each other's stab vests to ensure no one fell off the wall, which had a 20ft drop. This was a very perilous position, which they remained in for 15 minutes, before Network Rail ensured all further trains were stopped.

"At one point PC Gilbert was kneeling on the ledge with his boots hanging off the side, which would have been a frightening position to be in. Officers showed great resilience in what was an extremely intense situation, putting their own safety at risk to prevent the distressed teenager coming to harm.

"I have no doubts without their actions on that day the teenager would have died. They should be immensely proud of their actions on that night."

Chief Inspector Paul Hennessy, who is responsible for county response officers, said: "Response officers are a vital part of policing, the first on the scene to almost all incidents, and always there in people's hour of need. What happened that night would have taken immense courage and bravery, with dynamic decision-making to ensure that a teenager's life was saved.

"These are actions that our response teams are replicating across the county day in, day out, never seeking to receive praise or recognition. The actions of our response officers undoubtedly saved her life and she is now receiving the support she needs."