This month, Art on the Underground is unveiling a remarkable new artwork at Stratford station in London by Kurdish artist Ahmet Öğüt, titled "Saved by the Whales Tail, Saved by Art." The installation was inspired by an extraordinary metro accident that occurred outside Rotterdam, where a train overran its elevated station stop but was miraculously saved from plunging into the water below by a 33-foot-high sculpture of a whale's tail. The sculpture, one of two placed there by artist Maarten Struijs, unexpectedly caught and supported the train car. Fortunately, no passengers were on board, and the driver managed to escape without injury.

This unusual incident has sparked a fascinating question among readers: Was this Rotterdam whale tail rescue a one-time occurrence, or have other works of art played similar life-saving roles throughout history? The Guardian asked readers to share their thoughts on whether art's potential for salvation extends beyond the spiritual realm into the physical world.

Many readers acknowledged the Rotterdam incident as highly unusual. One commenter noted that the whale tail sculpture's ability to support the train's weight without breaking was "an unexpected fluke" that occurred due to "amazingly serendipitous location." They humorously suggested the site should now be called the "Rotterdam whale-weigh station."

However, several readers provided compelling examples of art therapy saving lives in medical settings. During World War II, art therapist Margaret Naumburg successfully worked with schizophrenic patients at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, using art therapy as a first-line treatment. Notable poet Allen Ginsberg received similar treatment at the same hospital in 1949 and went on to have a major literary career. In the 1930s, artist Thomas Hennell recovered from a schizophrenic episode while painting a mural at Claybury mental hospital and later became a war artist.

Personal testimonies revealed art's profound impact on mental health and suicide prevention. One reader shared that creativity has been a lifeline throughout their life, describing art as "a flow that I follow, like a little boat on a river" that has "saved me many times." Another reader credited art with literally saving their life, stating they "wouldn't still be here if not for creativity."

Perhaps the most powerful testimony came from a reader who, at age 13, had decided to end their life but put on a Suicidal Tendencies album while contemplating suicide. For the first time, they really listened to the lyrics, which dealt with the singer's mental health struggles. "Realizing that there were others out there who were struggling as well made me feel not so alone and isolated," they wrote, explaining how this musical connection prevented their suicide.

Environmental activism through art also emerged as a life-saving theme. Artist Olafur Eliasson uses melting ice installations in cities worldwide to raise awareness about humanity's role in climate change. One reader suggested that such art might "change a few minds, perhaps some influential ones, who might change the course of history and halt the extinction of most species."

The most extraordinary account came from Sophiline Cheam-Shapiro in Phnom Penh, who shared a firsthand experience from 1984. As a teenage dance student at Phnom Penh's School of Fine Arts, she was sent on a tour of rural Cambodia during the country's civil war. Government-controlled villages during the day often fell under Khmer Rouge control at night. The students traveled to remote areas to perform traditional dances and plays for farmers and rural communities, aiming to prove the government's authentic Khmer identity.

During one performance, Khmer Rouge fighters arrived armed with rocket launchers, intending to kill the performers. However, they became so captivated by the traditional dancing that they stayed until the end of the show, applauded, and returned to their base without firing a single shot. "As a result, I can answer the question based on first-hand experience: yes. Art can save lives," Cheam-Shapiro concluded.

Other readers noted that sports and entertainment can have similar life-saving effects. One mentioned a study showing that male suicide rates dropped significantly during football World Cups, even in countries that hadn't qualified for the tournament. Whether through distraction, community feeling, or simply providing a reason to get out of bed, such cultural events appeared to have protective mental health benefits.

These reader responses demonstrate that while physical rescues by artwork like the Rotterdam whale tail may be extraordinarily rare, art's capacity to save lives through emotional, psychological, and social means is far more common and profound than many might expect.