Bravery award for railway heroine Lucy

Taxi driver Lucy Gale, 32, from Pontefract, saved the motorists as a freight train bore down on them.

Ms Gale was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s silver medal for bravery for her actions at Hensall level crossing in West Yorkshire on May 27 last year.

She was approaching the crossing when she saw two cars obstructing the railway line following a collision.

The elderly female driver of one of the vehicles was slouched over the steering wheel, and the male driver of the other car was frantically trying to get out.

Noticing a freight train approaching at speed, and without a thought for her own personal safety, Ms Gale dragged the female driver from the car and moved her to a place of safety.

She then went back to the second vehicle and forced the driver’s damaged door open to free him before jumping in the car, driving it off the crossing and out of the path of the oncoming train, narrowly avoiding disaster.

Ms Gale assisted both the male and female casualties until the police and ambulance service arrived.

British Transport Police officer Harry Thompson was one of the first officers on the scene and said: “When I arrived, I had no idea about the events that had taken place prior to the emergency services attending.

“As the incident unfolded, I soon realised how heroic Lucy had been, and was astounded by her courage. Her level-headedness and quick-thinking actions helped avert a disaster.”