Man “with a heart of gold” to have surgery after crash in Alway

Lynda Read, 59, said paramedics couldn't find a pulse when they treated her brother David Ferris at the roadside in Alway but managed to bring him back to life.

A man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after father-of-three Mr Ferris suffered a broken leg, broken ribs, a shattered kneecap, a broken shoulder and head injuries.

Mr Ferris, who was walking on Aberthaw Road by the junction of Lliswerry Road at 5.39pm on Monday, has also contracted an infection and will be undergoing surgery this weekend.

The driver, 70, is from Newport and has been released on police bail until February 3, police said. He was not injured.

Mr Ferris, who is currently homeless, was born in Newport and has children and a grandson in the area.

Mrs Read said: “He’s got a heart of gold – he would give his last penny to help people. He’s got lots of friends, everybody recognises him.”

She added: “He comes to me for a lot of things. I’m his big sister and I look after him.

“Everybody is hoping he will pull through. It’s still touch-and-go at the moment.”

Mr Ferris woke from an induced coma on Wednesday at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, but is still confused and does not remember what happened to him, his sister said.

Mrs Read said he can recognise visitors but does not remember they have previously come to see him and doctors are still looking into whether he sustained brain injuries.

After the accident a friend called to say her brother had been involved in a collision and she rushed to the scene, but couldn’t get past a police cordon.

Mr Ferris was in the middle of the road when she arrived, with police, fire, and ambulance services all in attendance.

She said: “I was hysterical when I saw him. I heard them say ‘He’s gone, no pulse’ but they brought him back to life. I would like to thank the emergency services because they were marvellous.”