A train conductor who spotted a boy in distress on a Manchester-bound train has been praised after he sat and spoke with the boy until further help arrived.

Paul Singh, aged 36, has worked for train operator Northern for three years. He spotted the teenager when he was working on a train heading to Manchester Piccadilly in June.

Paul sat with the boy and talked to him for more than 30 minutes while a family member and the British Transport Police officers were called.

A Northern colleague then sat with the teenager so Paul could rejoin his train and make sure the passengers on board reached their destination.

Once British Transport Police attended and the scene and spoke with the teenager, he was taken to a place of safety.

As well as Paul Singh, two other Northern conductors have been recognised after they stepping in to help customers in June.

Paul’s intervention with the boy is typical of the help that Samaritans can provide. Anyone can contact the organisation free of charge 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by telephone to 116 123, email to [email protected], or by visiting www.samaritans.org

There is also a free Chasing the Stigma app called Hub of Hope, which brings together all the options for mental health that are available to someone in any given area.

To avoid causing any distress or upset to the boy’s friends and family, details of the specific date, time, and location of the incident have been omitted from this article to protect the identity of the boy involved.

A Northern train driver who witnessed an event on the tracks in front of his train has also encouraged men with mental health issues to seek help, and last month, three Northern train staff helped a woman in County Durham who had climbed onto railway lines.

Paul Singh, Northern train conductor, said:

I sat him down and talked to him to find out what was going on.

I told him my name and said I’ll stay as long as he needs, as he’s my priority. I just spoke to him and told him he had his whole life ahead of him.

I told him about the Samaritans and said he can speak to them at any point for free, get some good support and get the help he needs.

I’ve got kids myself, so I just spoke to him like he’s my own child and told him about all the help that is available. I just wanted to let him know I cared and nothing else mattered at that point.

I left him with a colleague, got the passengers back to Manchester Piccadilly, before taking a deep breath and mulling it over.