Thousands of passengers can pass through a busy London railway station, but sometimes noticing just one person in the crowd can make an extraordinary difference.

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That is something TfL worker Rizwan Javed knows better than most.

The 35-year-old from East London has spent 13 years working on London’s transport network and has helped save 34 lives during that time after learning how to recognise passengers who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, per MyLondon.

Rizwan joined TfL when he was just 22 and was introduced to specialist Samaritans training as part of his induction.

The course teaches railway workers how to recognise signs that somebody may be vulnerable, as well as how to approach them and begin what can be an extremely difficult conversation.

He didn’t have to wait long before putting those lessons into practice.

Just days into the job, Rizwan was working alone at a station when the behaviour and facial expressions of one passenger caught his attention.

Despite being nervous and questioning whether approaching the person could make the situation worse, he decided to check if they were okay.

The woman eventually opened up about the struggles she was facing and why she was at the station.

Rather than rushing the interaction, Rizwan stayed with her for around two hours and gave her the opportunity to talk through what she was experiencing.

He was eventually able to arrange for her family to come to the station, alongside support from British Transport Police.

Railway workers who intervene in situations like these will often never see the passenger again, but this encounter was different.

Several weeks later, the woman returned to the station. Rizwan recognised her among the crowd and she ran towards him, hugged him and explained that his actions had been the reason she was still alive.

It became the first of many interventions during his career.

Over 13 years, Rizwan has helped save 34 people, with his work eventually earning him an MBE in 2023, per BBC News.

The impact of the Samaritans training has also stretched beyond helping passengers.

Rizwan has faced personal challenges of his own and believes the course gave him greater confidence to support himself as well as other people. He has also found that helping others has allowed him to deal with some of his own difficulties.

That willingness to listen remains part of his everyday approach. Even when somebody simply wants a conversation, Rizwan makes an effort to give them his time.

Working in an environment where huge numbers of people continually move through stations makes identifying somebody who needs help particularly challenging. However, he credits his training with developing the attention to detail needed to recognise when one passenger stands out.

Now a familiar face at Elizabeth Line stations including Paddington, Rizwan continues helping passengers with their everyday needs while remaining prepared to step in when somebody requires something more.

He also credits his parents with giving him the determination to always do his best and hopes his experiences can encourage others to make a difference too.

For Rizwan, one person choosing to help another can potentially create a chain reaction — and after 34 life-saving interventions, his own career demonstrates just how powerful that decision can be.

If you are struggling, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258.

Featured image credit: Rizwan Javed / Instagram