Bedford train crash GP Eli Prior wins Pride of Britain award

What happened?

Dr Eleanor Prior, known as Eli, is a 41-year-old GP and a mother of two young daughters. In June she was travelling to London for a friend’s 40th birthday. She was in the front carriage when her train crashed into a stationary train near Bedford.

The crash killed the driver and injured 162 people. The impact threw Prior about 8 metres down the aisle. She hit her head and suffered serious injuries.

What did she do?

Prior was among the first people to call the emergency services. “Bring everything, there’s been a train crash,” she told the operator.

Other passengers left the carriage. Prior stayed with people who were too badly hurt to move. They included a woman with a severe spinal injury, several people with open fractures and a woman with serious facial injuries.

Her own hand was broken. So she used her mouth to tighten belts as tourniquets.

When paramedics arrived, she helped them triage patients, which means deciding who needs treatment first. Then she turned down an ambulance so another person could use it. She walked across a field on a suspected broken foot to her husband’s car.

“It was like a war zone,” she said.

What do passengers say?

“If it hadn’t been for Eli, people would have died,” said passenger Mel Ross.

Myles Sadler’s girlfriend, Maigon, was one of the people Prior helped. “Eli is a hero in our eyes,” he said.

How is she now?

Prior broke her right hand, and it needed surgery. She still has no grip in her fingers. She has also needed treatment for her foot, knee and back. She is trying to return to work as a GP.

She received a Special Recognition award at the 2026 Pride of Britain Awards.

See every 2026 Pride of Britain winner and regional finalist.