**Brave Firefighter Uses Emergency Medical Kit to Save Bleeding Father in Swansea**
A quick-thinking firefighter from Gorseinon has been praised for his decisive response when confronted with a medical emergency right outside his own home. In a remarkable twist of fate, Steve Richards—who had recently shown interest in purchasing a critical bleed control kit for his community—found himself employing such a kit to aid a neighbour only days later.
The incident unfolded on Ffordd Yr Afon in Bryngwyn Village, where Mr Richards, a firefighter based at Llanelli Fire Station, lives with his family. One evening, Mr Richards was startled by a frantic knock at his door. Opening it, he was met by two distressed local children. Their father, Matthew Williams, was lying unconscious and bleeding heavily on the pavement outside. Mr Williams, 43, had been playing with his children, Finley and Maya, while returning home from Gorseinon Cricket Club. Attempting to catch a rugby ball thrown by his son, he tripped—his footwear offering little grip—and sustained a head wound after striking the pavement.
Initially, Mr Richards relied on tea towels and tissues in an attempt to stem the flow of blood. However, the bleeding persisted. His wife, Leanne, quickly dialled 999 for an ambulance but was told there would be a wait for paramedics. Remembering that a new critical bleed control kit was stored in a defibrillator box outside the nearby Gorseinon Fire Station, Mrs Richards hurried to retrieve it.
Equipped with the kit, which includes a tourniquet, special gauze, chest seal dressing and other emergency supplies, Mr Richards was able to properly dress Mr Williams’s head injury. When it became clear that the ambulance might take some time, the family opted to drive Mr Williams themselves to Morriston Hospital. Medical staff later commended the quality of the bandaging, and the bleeding had been controlled so effectively that stitches were not required.
The event is a testament to the usefulness of the publicly accessible bleed control kits that have been placed around Swansea and Neath Port Talbot—an initiative led by Melanie James, former High Sheriff of West Glamorgan. These kits, now counting 420 across the area, are intended for use by ordinary members of the public in critical situations where lives are at stake. Ms James explained that the concept has already been rolled out to all local secondary schools and noted that the initiative is helping to bridge the crucial gap between an accident and the arrival of emergency services.
Reflecting on the incident, Mr Richards encouraged local residents to familiarise themselves with the kits and attend training if they get the chance. “The kit was absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Not many people know they’re out there and we need to raise more awareness. You don’t need medical training—the instructions inside are clear and straightforward.”
Mr Williams expressed gratitude not only for the immediate care but also the emotional support his family received during the ordeal. He admitted that the experience left his children initially shocked, but they were comforted at the Richards’ home while he was treated. “We went round to Steve’s on Wednesday with a couple of beers, wine, flowers and chocolate to say thank you. I think we’ll be lifelong friends now,” said Mr Williams, who returned to work at the DVLA just days later.
The experience has inspired both Mr Williams and Mr Richards to promote wider use and awareness of bleed control kits, which are now seen as a valuable addition to community safety infrastructure. Melanie James, whose efforts catalysed the local rollout, praised Mr Richards’s response and highlighted the importance of ongoing community training, stating: “Steve was amazing—what a star.”
As this story demonstrates, ordinary people equipped with simple, effective tools can make a life-saving difference in moments of crisis. Community initiatives like this not only save lives but also bring neighbours together, strengthening the bonds that underpin local support networks.