The second row player will make a full recovery

Ruthin second row Peter Lewis, 26, broke two vertebrae in a tackle in a second team match against Colwyn Bay.

His opponents' captain Bobby Blackwell remembered his Army paramedic training and kept Mr Lewis still till help came.

Mark Lewis said he believed the quick actions saved his brother, who has been advised never to play rugby again.

"I couldn't have asked for anything else from the opposing team captain. It's just a good advert for the game of rugby," he said.

Mr Blackwell, a 48-year-old company director, spent seven years as a paramedic in the Army and a month training in an accident and emergency department.

I'd like to say a massive thanks to him, and everybody else that was there who helped Peter Mark Lewis

He saw Mr Lewis fall to the floor "like a sack of potatoes" after he mistimed a tackled, during the match last Thursday, and crushed his head into another player's chest.

He managed to keep talking to Mr Lewis and to keep him still until professional help arrived.

But a modest Mr Blackwell said he had "not done anything great".

"I did what anybody would do if they'd had the training I've been fortunate to have," he said.

"I'm very pleased to have been able to help the guy when it was needed."

Mr Lewis was taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan but was transferred to the spinal unit at Liverpool's Royal Hospital.

Mr Lewis will never play rugby again

Doctors there have now told him he will make a full recovery, and could be home next week although he faces three months in traction.

Mark Lewis described the traction which his brother was subject to in hospital.

"He's got a halo on his head, and a body traction unit attached to it, to totally avoid any movement.

"He'll have to have that on for a minimum of three months, but he'll have partial movement when he's home."

He said his brother had decided never to play rugby again after doctors advised him not to, but said he was "in good spirits".

Massive thanks

"They've managed to manipulate all the bones back into place. They've said that he's going to make a full recovery.

"It was imperative that he didn't move as soon as he'd done the injury.

"Mr Blackwell made sure that he didn't, and stayed with him and told him how important it was not to move.

"I'd like to say a massive thanks to him, and everybody else that was there who helped Peter.

"Things could've been a hell of a lot worse if he wasn't there."