GWENT heroes including the staff who fought off a man who tried to kill their colleague in hospital were recognised for their bravery at an awards ceremony earlier today.

The 12 members of staff from Nevill Hall Hospital rescued their work colleague while she was being viciously attacked by her ex-partner.

In September last year, Royston Jones, 39, from Brynmawr walked into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital. Bare-chested and intoxicated on drugs, he attacked his ex-partner, Claire Jones, 35.

One of the heroes collecting his Good Citizen Award today at The Gwent Police Headquarters was Dr Edward Curtis, 41. The anaesthetist had finished his shift and was heading home, when he saw 6ft tall Jones.

Dr Curtis said: “I asked if I could help but he was aggressive and barged through into the restricted area.”

He followed Jones and narrowly missed a punch.

Jones was strangling his ex-partner, and Dr Curtis began pulling him off, wrestling with Jones to keep him away from his estranged wife.

During the ordeal, he suffered concussion after Jones kneed him in the head.

“I think anyone would have done the same and I felt taking action was my only option,” he said.

“The whole team pulled together as the most important thing was to save our colleague.”

Also on the ward were staff nurses, who had been caring for six critically ill patients.

Nurses Laura Bumpsteed, Pauline Franchi, Joanne Holvey and Sheila Palmer also collected an award.

Mrs Franchi added: “We just did what we could to save her and only afterwards the shock set in as it was a frightening ordeal.”

Jones was so strong that it took several people to detain him.

Also given awards were Mathew Cole, Gary Davies, Melanie James, Peter Jenkins, David Stratton, Kayleigh Williams and Ian Woods.

Judith Paget, the Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: “They put their own safety at considerable risk to help a colleague and to protect patients and other members of staff on the unit.

"Their actions that day went above and beyond the call of duty and their awards are thoroughly deserved.”

Jones was found guilty of attempted murder and jailed for 15 years in February 2015.

Another individual receiving an award was Fred Roberts, 56, from Newport.

He extinguished a fire at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport and then assisted with the evacuation of other patients.

The fire had been deliberately started by a patient and at the time, Mr Roberts was visiting his late wife, Helen, who was a patient.

When alarms were sounded he went to check and found a bed alight and sprang into action using a fire extinguisher.

He said: “It was a ferocious fire but I think anyone would have done the same.

“Afterwards I was told that without my actions then things could have been a lot worse as there were oxygen tanks which could have exploded.”

His daughter, Lauren, added that she was “very proud” of him.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Ian Johnston, said: “It’s important that we recognise the bravery and commitment of these special people who selflessly put the safety of others ahead of their own.

"Their actions during these frightening events prevented these incidents from escalating to have potentially catastrophic consequences”