Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Rail worker Rizwan Javed honoured with MBE for saving 29 lives

Since 2015, Javed has intervened to save the lives of individuals contemplating suicide

Rail worker Rizwan Javed honoured with MBE for saving 29 lives

Rizwan Javed, a rail worker from east London employed by the MTR Elizabeth line at Ealing Broadway station, has been honoured with an MBE for saving 29 people from taking their own lives, the BBC reported.

Since 2015, Javed has intervened to save the lives of these individuals contemplating suicide, by remaining vigilant and approaching those in vulnerable situations.


Alongside his railway duties, the 33-year-old actively uses Instagram and TikTok to share his experiences, aiming to inspire others.

Javed said he attended the Samaritans training course nearly a decade ago when he had joined the railway. Network Rail invested in the course to prevent suicide and to support those who have been affected by it.

Highlighting the course's significance, he said the course basically teaches you key skills of how to identify vulnerable people, what sort of conversations to have with them and how to take them to a point of safety.

Two days following the training, while working at a station, Javed found himself having to implement the skills acquired and intervened to prevent an individual from taking their own life.

In 2019 he received the Samaritans Lifesaver Award, an accolade honouring individuals who have used their communication skills like talking and listening to prevent tragedies and save lives.

Javed, who previously served at Great Western Railway (GWR), acknowledged the emotional impact of these interventions, emphasising that the people he helps come from diverse age groups.

"Coming from an Asian background, they're not really educated about mental health," Javed added.

"If you're going through mental health issues your mother [will] probably give you a paracetamol and say you'll be OK in the morning.”

Javed also said that discussing mental health openly, both at work and home, has served as a “coping mechanism” for himself.

Regarding being appointed MBE, he recalled receiving the letter through the post while asleep, and his mother, more enthusiastic, ended up opening it for him.

He said, "But when she told me I had to read it about 10 times to digest it, it was amazing.

"So, I feel like this MBE award has given me the confidence to take it a step further on a wider scale."

More For You

Donald Trump

Trump also announced an initiative on historically black colleges and universities and signed orders on AI education and workforce development.

Getty Images

Trump signs orders targeting university diversity policies and accreditation

DONALD TRUMP signed a set of executive orders on Wednesday aimed at US universities, focusing on foreign donations, college accreditation, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

One order directs the federal government to enforce existing laws requiring universities to disclose large foreign gifts. Another addresses accreditation, which Trump has described as a “secret weapon.”

Keep ReadingShow less
'India likely to be first to sign trade deal with the US'

Scott Bessent speaks during the Institute of International Finance (IIF) Global Outlook Forum in Washington, DC on April 23, 2025. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

'India likely to be first to sign trade deal with the US'

US TREASURY SECRETARY Scott Bessent has said he expects India to be the first country to secure a bilateral trade deal avoiding President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs.

A 26 per cent 'reciprocal' tariff on Indian exports to the US is currently on a 90-day pause, set to expire on July 8. However, like other countries, India is presently subject to a 10 per cent tariff under the existing policy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Badenoch says Tories must work hard to win May polls

Kemi Badenoch

Badenoch says Tories must work hard to win May polls

Simon Finlay

CONSERVATIVE leader Kemi Badenoch made her second visit to Kent in six weeks, declaring her party can cling onto power at the county council elections on May 1.

However, Badenoch, who was in the county on Tuesday (22) to meet a farmer impacted by the government’s changes to inheritance tax, insisted “we are going to have to work hard for it”. Eighty one seats are up for grabs at Kent County Council (KCC) next week.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK-Parliament-iStock

The sanctions target politicians across parties who have supported calls for frozen Russian assets to be used to aid Ukraine. (Photo: iStock)

iStock

Russia bans 15 UK MPs and six peers over Ukraine remarks

RUSSIA has imposed sanctions on 15 British MPs and six members of the House of Lords, citing “hostile statements and unfounded accusations” about Moscow.

The move was announced by Russia’s foreign ministry in a statement accusing the UK of “fabricating anti-Russian narratives” and trying to “demonise” the country, The Guardian reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Lanka probes alleged photo leak of sacred Buddha tooth relic

Buddhist devotees stand in queues to enter the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy last Friday (18)

Sri Lanka probes alleged photo leak of sacred Buddha tooth relic

POLICE in Sri Lanka launched an investigation last Sunday (20) into a photo circulated on social media claiming to show a Buddha tooth relic, which has gone on display under tight security.

The Criminal Investigation Department was ordered to determine whether the widelyshared image was from the rare display of the relic, police said.

Keep ReadingShow less