bbc: Passenger reunited with rail crew who saved his life while he seeks mystery GP who resuscitated him
Ian Drewry, 69, returned to Reading Station on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (ET) to thank the rail staff, signallers and emergency teams who rescued him after he suffered a cardiac arrest on a train from Swindon last September. The reunion highlighted the split-second decisions and teamwork that delivered life-saving care, and it renewed his appeal to locate the doctor who administered CPR onboard so he can say thank you in person.
Reunion at Reading Station
Drewry met the train manager and dispatchers who led the on-the-ground response when he collapsed on September 14, 2025 (ET) as the service approached Reading. Present at the station on February 18 were Train Manager Veronika Rogers and dispatchers Jack McIntyre and Michael Lamb, along with the station delivery manager for Reading, Karen Watts, and representatives from the South Central Ambulance Service and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
During the short ceremony on the platform, Drewry expressed gratitude for the coordinated response. "This has been truly amazing – I just didn’t realise the amount of people involved on that Sunday afternoon last September, " he said. He made clear that he believes he would not be alive without the actions of the platform staff, the train manager, the driver and the teams who arranged immediate medical assistance.
How the rescue unfolded
As the train neared Reading on the afternoon of September 14, a fellow passenger activated the emergency alarm and the service was brought to a halt. Train Manager Veronika Rogers investigated and found Drewry unresponsive and not breathing. Incredibly, a GP happened to be travelling on the same train and began CPR immediately while another passenger dialled 999.
Rogers instructed the driver to move the unit into Reading station, enabling an expedited handover of care. Working with signallers in the Thames Valley, Network Rail staff ensured the train remained at the platform so emergency crews could attend. Dispatchers McIntyre and Lamb sourced a station defibrillator and set up screens to preserve the casualty's privacy and to allow paramedics to work without interruption. The quick-thinking on-board and station teams meant Drewry received defibrillation and advanced care before being transferred to hospital, where he later made a recovery.
McIntyre, who had only just qualified as a dispatcher, recalled the surge of adrenaline as he helped direct people away from the scene and coordinate action with the train manager. His calm response, and that of his colleagues, illustrates the variety of roles that converged to save a life in under extraordinary circumstances.
Search for the mystery GP and next steps
While Drewry emphasised the many hands involved in his rescue, he singled out the doctor who performed CPR onboard as someone he urgently wants to find. He has appealed for help tracing the GP so he can thank her personally for the intervention that kick-started his recovery.
Representatives at the reunion underlined the importance of public awareness around lifesaving measures such as CPR and the availability of station defibrillators. The event also served as a reminder of how presence of mind, basic first-aid skills and rapid coordination between on-board staff, signallers and emergency services can make the difference between life and death.
Drewry’s return to Reading was both a personal thank-you and a public example of how a chain of swift, practical actions by staff and passersby saved a passenger’s life. He said it was essential to come back and express his gratitude face to face, and he hopes the doctor who helped him will come forward so he can complete that act of thanks.
