A DISTINGUISHED Blaenavon firefighter who was involved in a terrifying crash two years ago has spoken of his enduring agony - which has forced him to retire from the job he loved.

Watchman Paul Roberts, 53, suffered a broken femur, broken sternum, broken ribs and a fractured vertebra when the fire engine he was travelling in overturned in May 2013.

Mr Roberts was one of five firefighters injured in the crash, which occurred on Abergavenny Road, between Blaenavon and Govilon, on May 16.

He was forced on to crutches and to wear a back brace following the harrowing incident which saw the cabin collapse on his head, but had made progress and had been able to walk using just a walking stick as an aid.

But then came the news that he had contracted a bone infection in his leg, and he said he saw no option but to take retirement earlier this year.

He said: “I did not want to go back with the boys having to carry me, so I decided to take retirement.

“I have been really down about it as I can’t imagine doing anything else.

“I wanted to go back but I started to realise at the rehabilitation centre that I was not going to get back operational.

"Then came these terrible pains in my leg about a month ago.

"I had been coming on leaps and bounds before that.

"My doctor sent me to Nevill Hall where I was put on morphine.

“I stayed in for three weeks and was given antibiotics.”

Mr Roberts was allowed home at the weekend, and is still taking antibiotics, and has further hospital appointments.

He hopes upon his recovery, he and his wife Donna can enjoy spending time travelling in their camper van.

He said: “I would like to go around Britain and maybe to the Normandy beaches.”

The crew of retained firefighters from Blaenavon were responding to an emergency call when the accident happened two years ago.

Mr Roberts first became aware that the engine was leaving the road when he heard fence posts scraping against it.

He was sat next to the driver and when he looked up, he saw a tree coming towards him.

After the crash, his torso was bent over the transmission box, his arm was trapped behind his head, the cabin was pressing on his head and shoulder, while the dashboard trapped his legs.

He described how his blood pressure dropped and everyone thought that the accident was going to prove fatal.

But luckily the ambulance crews were able to administer drugs while he was still trapped.

Mr Roberts was airlifted by Wales Air Ambulance to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, before undergoing on operation to fit a pin in his broken femur.

He had never received an injury while in service and remained in hospital for 13 days.

He started as a fire fighter at the age of 24 after being inspired by his great uncle Archie Atfield who was a firefighter in Blaenavon, and in 2008, he received a medal for maintaining high standards.