A former naval captain from Croesgoch has defied the odds and come back from the brink of death to run tomorrow's (Sunday's) Cardiff Half Marathon in aid of Withybush Hospital.

Captain Brian Thomas collapsed suddenly in July 2011, hitting his head on a stone wall and was rushed to Withybush Hospital A&E before being transferred to the Heath Hospital, Cardiff, for specialist neurology surgery.

Captain Thomas, 43, spent four weeks in a coma and a total of eight weeks at the Heath. Despite the bleak prognosis his parents were given by doctors he went on to make a miraculous recovery.

Captain Thomas said: “Death was expected and my parents were told to prepare for it. After I came out of the coma they were then told I would be paralysed, have problems with my speech and maybe I would be affected mentally, but within about four weeks I was discharged.

“Without the rapid response of A&E staff at Withybush I wouldn’t be here. They really, really were rapid and were so professional.

"They knew it was way out of their hands and immediately got me to an ambulance with a doctor and two nurses.

“I think they’re a fantastic bunch of people. I think we should be very proud of the services we have got in Pembrokeshire.”

To show his gratitude Captain Thomas will be raising money for the A&E department in tomorrow's race.

To support Captain Thomas contact him at marservbt@gmail.com