#HumberBravery: Officer who risked his safety to pull a girl to safety from the path of a speeding train wins Bravery Award

14 June 2023

An officer who risked his safety to pull a girl to safety from the path of a speeding train has won a Humberside Police and Federation Bravery Award.

In June 2022, PC Kieran Farrow was single-crewed when he received a report of a 15-year-old girl in crisis heading towards unknown railway tracks. The girl was known to be suffering from mental health problems.

PC Farrow volunteered to check several locations. When he arrived at Althorpe train station, a rural station near Scunthorpe, he saw a girl fitting the description, and headed over the footbridge to her side of the lines.

As he did so, the girl walked onto the train tracks.

PC Farrow requested a stop on all lines, before getting himself to a place of safety where he could begin to speak to the girl. He communicated calmly and clearly, but it became clear that she had no intention of cooperating.

PC Farrow said: “I tried to engage with her and we had some kind of dialogue. But suddenly a train was coming and the girl took some steps forward and completely disengaged from me.

“I don’t really remember exactly what happened next, but I ran onto the tracks, lifted the girl up and ran off to the side. The train came thundering past us, beeping its horn.”

The incident was captured on PC Farrow’s bodyworn video and shows a freight train passing by just seconds after he’s dragged the girl to safety.

PC Farrow and colleagues led the girl to a police car, and she was taken to hospital and given mental health support she needed.

On being nominated for the bravery award, PC Farrow said: “I’d like to think it’s what anyone would do. I hope the girl now has the help she needs, she’s just a kid.”

Humberside Police Federation Chair Lee Sims said: “Kieron showed immense courage, quick thinking and excellent decision-making skills that day.

“He acted in a manner that most certainly prevented the loss of this girl’s life, and we commend him for his bravery.”

PC Farrow will attend the first Humberside Police and Federation Bravery Awards on Thursday 15 June.

At the event a winner will be announced who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.

The lead sponsor for the Awards is The Northern Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the Awards are Serve and Protect Credit Union, No 1 Copperpot Credit Union, Metfriendly, Taylor Law, Niche, JMW Solicitors, New Park Court and The Humberside Police Welfare & Benevolent Fund.

The hashtag for the event is #HumberBravery.