PC Dan Burdett wasn’t on shift. He wasn’t even in uniform. He was simply on his way to work from Prittlewell station when he found himself in the middle of a life-or-death situation.
The scene unfolded suddenly—a stationary train, two distressed men, and a critically injured man lying on the tracks. Despite being off duty and without his kit, PC Burdett acted without hesitation.
Quick Thinking Saves Precious Time
Realising the severity of the situation, Dan jumped down onto the tracks. The injured man had been hit by the train, suffering a catastrophic bleed from his ankle and a serious head injury. With no tourniquet available, Dan improvised. He quickly removed the shoelaces from the man’s uninjured foot, grabbed a pen from the tracks, and fashioned a makeshift tourniquet to stem the bleeding.
Dan then focused on treating the man’s head injury and keeping him breathing, all while being acutely aware of the potential danger from another oncoming train.
When paramedics arrived, they mistook Dan for one of their own due to his calm and professional response. In reality, he was just an off-duty police officer using his training, quick thinking, and whatever tools he could find to save a life.
Recognition for Bravery
Sadly, despite Dan’s heroic efforts, the man passed away two days later. However, Dan’s swift intervention gave the man’s family precious time to say their goodbyes—a comfort that would not have been possible without his actions.
PC Burdett has since been honoured with a London Police Bravery Award and medals from the Royal Humane Society. Reflecting on the incident, he said:
“I was just doing what I was trained to do. But it’s nice to be recognised for trying to save someone’s life.”
Dan’s actions exemplify the dedication and courage that define the police force, reminding us that officers are never truly off duty when it comes to helping those in need.
The police community and the public alike have praised PC Burdett for his heroic actions, with many hailing him as a true credit to his profession.
