"building that person's trust I feel is the biggest thing."
A railway worker who has saved 29 lives has revealed the main signs to identify a vulnerable passenger.
Rizwan Javed, who works for the MTR Elizabeth Line at Paddington station, London, was honoured with an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours List.
On ITV’s This Morning, the Samaritan-trained railway worker discussed the warning signs that a passenger needs help.
Explaining that engaging with the individual is the first step, Rizwan said:
“It’s about engagement and wanting to do it with an open heart.
“Open a conversation and build small talk, building that person’s trust I feel is the biggest thing.”
According to Rizwan, facial expressions, the type of clothing worn in line with the weather conditions, missing trains and asking about non-stopping services are all signs.
While Rizwan is happy with his MBE, he plans to use it for the greater good.
He said: “It’s a great opportunity for me to continue spreading awareness on a wider scale.
“I think it’s a great achievement for the railway and all my colleagues and the lovely job they do on a day-to-day basis.”
One of his greatest moments is when a passenger returned to his workplace to thank him for saving her life.
Rizwan explained: “They ran over and gave me a hug.
“She said if it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t be here, and that just made my heart melt. It’s a feeling you can’t describe.”
The 33-year-old said each saved passenger has equally added to his life.
He said: “A lot of people say, ‘You’ve helped so many people’, but they’ve helped me so much as well, they’ve developed me as an individual and I’ve learned so much on the way.’
“I am who I am today because of those people.
“I’m just trying to do my best to make a difference in this world.”
His journey was inspired by the stigma individuals within the Asian community often hold against mental health issues.
Rizwan aims to encourage all people to speak about their problems.
He said: “Everyone is fighting a battle of some sort, and it’s important we speak about it, and speaking about it determines how you end up in life.
“Within the Asian community mental health isn’t spoken about so much and so openly, and I want to make a change that.”
Rizwan aims to recruit more people, saying:
“I’m just one person, but if other people join me on this journey, we can make the world a better place.”
When helping a vulnerable person, he advised:
“Just be open, even if you need to reach out to a stranger.
“If you fear judgment, speak to a stranger, don’t bottle it up… people will be inspired by your journey.”
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