Essex Freemason courageously saves the life of man hit by a train
Due praise given by Essex Freemasons for a member’s courage in saving a severely injured man’s life
The members of Prittlewell Lodge No. 4896 that meets at Saxon Hall, the Southend Masonic Centre, had just cause to praise one of their members whose heroic actions at Prittlewell Station on 4th May saved the life of a severely injured man hit by a train.
Off-duty and on his way to work at around 05:25, Dan Burdett, a Constable with the Metropolitan Police, walked onto the Prittlewell train station platform and saw a seriously injured man lying on the track close to a stationary train. Two other people were calling the emergency services, so Dan gave clear instructions to them to get the next train stopped, which he knew was due in just a few minutes, and to also check on the welfare of the driver of the stationary train.
Seeing the severity of the injuries the man had clearly been hit by the train and needed emergency action to save his life. So, with a complete disregard for his own personal safety and not knowing if the oncoming train would be stopped in time, Dan jumped onto the train track and used the man’s left trainer shoelace and, using an old pen as a windlass, fabricated a tourniquet to stem the severely bleeding leg that had been severed in the collision with the train.
Dan then monitored the man's vitals and reduced the bleeding from the man’s head until paramedics arrived and remained to assist with the critical medical care of the man.
After being taken to the Royal London Hospital for emergency surgery with severe and traumatic head injuries, internal bleeding, a broken neck, back and pelvis and an amputated right foot, the patient survived but the hospital’s doctors said that had it not been for Dan’s resourcefulness he would have certainly died at the train station. Sadly, the injured man was not able to make a sustained recovery and passed away a few days later.
Dan is the Senior Deacon of the Prittlewell Lodge and looking forward to celebrating the Lodge’s Centenary in 2027 when he will be the Worshipful Master. The Lodge Secretary, Jim Wolfe, said, ''There are many emergency workers and armed forces personnel among our 8,000 members across the County. They are attracted by the camaraderie and voluntary work we do for the community.” Jim added, “Dan Burdett is an active Essex Mason and always willing to support everything we do for the local community. His personal courage, rapid actions and decisive leadership should be an inspiration to all Freemasons.”
Photos
Top: Southend Echo newspaper clip capturing the story.
Left (L–R): Life-saving hero Dan Burdett being congratulated by Jim Wolfe.
