A Great Western Railway employee who helped tackle a killer to the floor at Plymouth station has been recognised at the National Rail Awards in London.
GWR Station Supervisor John Phare has been presented with the Judges’ Special Award for his bravery in rushing to tackle and restrain a man who was carrying out a vicious knife attack on another man at Plymouth station last year.
John Phare was presented with the award from previous recipient Wayne Marques; the British Transport Police officer who was stabbed in the head while fighting off three London Bridge attackers in June 2017.
The National Rail Awards take place every September in London and was this year hosted by television journalist Steph McGovern and RAIL Managing Editor, Nigel Harris.
Speaking after receiving his award, John Phare who has worked for GWR for almost ten years, said: “It is a real honour to be awarded the Judges’ Special Award at the National Rail Awards. It was something I never expected I would come across and I only wish I could have done more.”
Phare received a standing ovation from the room of more than 1,200 guests at the awards celebration.
Great Western Railway Managing Director Mark Hopwood, said: “I am proud to see John receive this very special award for his incredible bravery. Recognition for his selfless actions and determination to intervene in such a dreadful incident is richly deserved.”
John Phare has previously been recognised by GWR’s internal staff excellence awards alongside colleagues at Plymouth station for how they responded to the incident.
This year was the 19th annual National Rail Awards held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
