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Cool-headed conductor praised for helping baby

Jessica Bradley
BBC News
Northern Trains A train conductor wearing a blue uniform stands in the train station on the platform Northern Trains
Conductor James Hallett was praised by the baby's mother for his reassuring reaction during the emergency

A mother whose baby had a medical emergency on a train has praised a quick-thinking train conductor for his help.

A tube fitted to drain excess fluid from Jane Griffiths' six-month-old son's brain came loose and began leaking during a journey from Knottingley to Hebden Bridge in January.

Northern conductor James Hallett stepped in to reassure Jane and her partner and got some bandages to try to stop the leak, and a foil blanket to keep baby Austin warm.

The parents got off the train in Leeds to take their son to Leeds Children's Hospital for emergency treatment. After undergoing several procedures, he is now recovering at home.

Jane said: "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.

"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."

She contacted Northern to thank James for his assistance after the incident and decided to nominate him for a Pride of Britain Award.

"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."

Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern in Yorkshire, said: "We're incredibly proud of James for stepping up to help the family deal with a difficult and distressing situation.

"Incidents like these show that our conductors, who are on board every service, are not just there to check tickets.

"They provide support and assistance to millions of passengers every year and work hard to keep them keep them safe."

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