A ‘heroic’ rail worker who stepped in to shield passengers during a mass stabbing on a train has woken up and spoken with his wife.
Samir Zitouni, 48, from southeast London, was on the 6.25pm LNER Doncaster to King’s Cross service when the rampage happened last week.
He’s said to have used a frying pan from the buffet carriage kitchen to stop the knifeman roughly halfway through the journey to the capital.
The driver did an emergency stop at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, so armed police could storm the train and make an arrest.
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Samir, however, became one of 11 people injured by a knife attack on board and has been at a hospital in Cambridge ever since.
He regained consciousness on Thursday and his condition is now stable, his colleague revealed on a GoFundMe raising money for his family.
Gemma Royce said: ‘His wife has shared the wonderful news that Sam woke up briefly yesterday, and she was able to speak with him for a short time.
‘This is a truly positive step forward, though there is still a long journey ahead in his recovery.
‘Thank you all for continuing to keep Sam and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Your kindness means the world to them.’
About £38,000 has been raised so far, with many of the more than 1,700 people praising Samir for his ‘courage and unwavering spirit’.
Neighbours in Peckham previously described Samir to the Metro as a man who was always ‘smiling’.
‘I’m not surprised by his actions, he is a very good-hearted person,’ said restaurant worker Fernando Portilla.
‘He is a hero and an example for us all. He is a big part of the community here and has such a great spirit.
‘He’s one of a kind. Always helping neighbours out.’
Police said after reviewing on-board CCTV footage that Samir’s actions were ‘nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people’s lives’.
Anthony Williams, 32, of no fixed abode, was charged with 10 counts of attempted murder relating to the train stabbing and a count of attempted murder in connection with an attack in London last Saturday.
He is also accused of one count of attempted murder and carrying a blade after a man was left with facial injuries following an attack on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock station shortly before 1am that same day.
Timeline of events linked to suspect Anthony Williams
October 31, 7.10pm – A 14-year-old is stabbed with a knife in Peterborough city centre and left with minor injuries. The suspect has fled when the police arrive and officers are unable to find them.
7.25pm – A man is seen allegedly with a knife at a barber’s shop in the Fletton area of Peterborough. The alleged sighting is reported to the police at 9.10pm, and officers do not attend but record a crime.
November 1, 12.46am – Isaiah Ishmael Idris suffers facial injuries when he is attacked with a knife on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock, east London. The suspect flees.
9.25am – A second report is received by Cambridgeshire Police of a man with a knife at a barbers’ shop in Fletton. When the call arrives, he is still at the scene, but when police arrive 18 minutes later, they are unable to find him. A crime is recorded.
November 1, 7.30pm – A mass stabbing occurs on a train from Doncaster to London, and passengers activate the alarms. The train pulls in at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
7.39pm – Cambridgeshire Constabulary police have been called
7.42pm – British Transport Police (BTP) on their way
7.50pm – Within eight minutes of the call to BTP, two men have been apprehended by armed officers, with one later released without charge
November 2 – BTP says a 35-year-old man from London who was also arrested at the scene has been released with no further action. A 32-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody.
November 3 – Anthony Williams, 35, from Peterborough, is charged with ten counts of attempted murder, and another count of attempted murder in connection with the DLR incident
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