A GWENT wheelchair athlete was badly injured in a collision with a car during a half- marathon.

Stuart Riggs, 44, of Llanwenarth Citra, near Abergavenny, pictured, severed an artery in his arm during the accident in the Gloucestershire event.

He was given emergency first aid at the scene which saved his life. He is now recovering in Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

The accident happened on Sunday in Huntley, Tibberton.

Car driver Chris Cahill, of Dorchester, said he was stationary and Mr Riggs' wheelchair ran into his vehicle.

Barry Rogers, who lives locally, gave first aid to Mr Riggs before he was taken to Gloucester Royal Hospital before being transferred to Morriston.

Mr Rogers said: "The driver knocked on my door and said a man had been seriously injured. My wife dialled 999 and I took my first-aid kit out. He had lost a terrific amount of blood, but we managed to get the tourniquet on and stopped any more loss of blood. I think we probably saved his life."

Mr Rogers added: "Mr Cahill told me he saw the wheelchair coming down the hill towards the bend by the chapel. He stopped his car, but the wheelchair was unable to stop and crashed into the car, throwing the occupant out."

Mr Cahill, 41, said: "I could see two wheelchairs coming towards me down the hill, so I stopped my car.

"One of them managed to swerve past me, but the other crashed into the front of my car, causing extensive damage. The image of Mr Riggs' expression as he tried to desperately avoid hitting my car is something that will stay with me forever."

He added: "I had no idea the race was going on and had no help from the runners or marshalls alike - all they were concerned about was completing their race."

Mr Riggs, who works for Almondsbury-based information technology company, Northgate Information Solutions, was featured in the Argus last year after he raised £4,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance Service by taking part in the London Marathon.

A Gloucester police spokeswoman said the force was not involved with the marathon and investigations were not going any further.