'Good Samaritan' early jail release

Steve Summers had been convicted at Swansea Crown Court

A prisoner is due to be released two weeks early in recognition of his actions to save the life of a motorcyclist.

Steve Summers, 36, was in a prison van when it passed a road accident in south Wales.

Mr Summers, from Llanelli, was allowed by a warden to use his first aid knowledge to save the motorcyclist's life.

The prisoner tended the man's injuries, which included a partially severed leg.

I'm just so glad I was able to help him and know that my time in prison wasn't wasted

Prisoner Steve Summers

He applied a tourniquet of bandages and his own t-shirt to stop the flow of blood - and his prompt action saved the man's life.

Prison officials were told that if the motorcyclist had not been treated he would have bled to death in six minutes.

Mr Summers said: "All I could see was the bottom half of the rider sticking out of the hedge.

"I had to dig myself into the hedge to reach him but he was in a really bad way.

"His left leg below the knee was hanging off just by the skin and blood was spouting a yard into the air from a main artery.

"I panicked at first then pulled myself together because I was the only one who could save him.

'Very unusual'

"I'm just so glad I was able to help him and know that my time in prison wasn't wasted."

The 37-year-old rider was rushed to the intensive care unit at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, with severe leg and arm injuries and had to have his leg amputated.

Mr Summers was on his way under escort to the same hospital from Prescoed prison at Usk, south east Wales, for an appointment.

Mr Summers will be released on Wednesday 14 days early from a 30-month sentence for supplying drugs.

A Home Office spokesman said: "These are very unusual circumstances."