A rail commuter who was hailed a hero by his father after he was shot in the chest trying to thwart an armed robbery has regained consciousness but was still too unwell yesterday to speak to police.

Adam Mapleson’s father, Michael, described his son as “extremely brave” after the 24-year-old was shot at close range on Friday morning when he confronted gunmen robbing a female security guard.

“Knowing Adam as we do, although we were shocked to discover he had been shot, we were not surprised he received his injuries as a result of trying to protect another,” Mr Mapleson said.

The IT consultant was taken to hospital for emergency surgery after being attacked when he went to the aid of the guard, who was delivering money with her male partner to a cash machine at the railway station in Rayleigh, Essex. The robbers fled with a substantial amount in a cash box.

At first there were fears that Adam Mapleson might not survive, but British Transport Police said yesterday that he was comfortable at Southend University Hospital, although he remained in the highdependency unit.

A spokeswoman said: “He’s getting slightly better but he’s certainly not well enough to be interviewed by us today.”

The two guards who were robbed were shaken but unhurt.

Speaking from his home in Rayleigh yesterday, Mr Mapleson told The Times that the family were pleased with the improvement in his son’s condition although he was not yet able to speak clearly.

“He is doing OK,” said Mr Mapleson, adding that the family were keeping a vigil at his bedside.

In an earlier statement he had described his son as loving and with many friends. “He is a keen computer gamer who enjoys music and hillwalking,” he said.

“I am pleased to be able to tell you that Adam has regained consciousness and I have been able to talk to him.

“He is beginning to recover from his ordeal and we hope he will be able to talk to British Transport Police in the next couple of days.”

The police continued to talk to witnesses and examine CCTV footage in their hunt for the two robbers, who wore scarves over their faces. Police described them as having “no regard for human life”.

The raiders, armed with a handgun, fled the station in a white van — later found abandoned and on fire near by — before transferring to a car. Their cash haul may be rendered worthless, however, because it was booby trapped to explode with red dye if stolen. Adam Mapleson’s page on Myspace.com, a networking website owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Times, talks about his love for heavy metal music and computer games, and describes how he enjoys his job but finds the rail journey irritating.

Friends paid tribute to his heroics, and a childhood friend called for him to receive a bravery award. Darren Small, 26, from Rayleigh, said: “He should be put forward. He may have stopped two security guards being shot.”

Anyone with information should call the British Transport Police on 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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