A Wales Air Ambulance paramedic from Pembroke Dock is to receive an award at a special ceremony in the House of Lords for his lifesaving role after a gas explosion in South Wales.

Air paramedic Phil Thomas is one of three crew members to have been selected for the prestigious Air Ambulance Team Award 2010, which will be presented at the Ambulance Service Institute awards ceremony in London this month.

The accolade is in recognition of the team’s pivotal role in saving the life of a 38-year-old man who suffered serious injuries when a gas cylinder exploded in Bridgend earlier this year.

Despite fading light and difficult weather, Mr Thomas, along with air paramedic Gareth Williams and pilot Grant Elgar, treated and flew the patient direct to microsurgery at Morriston Hospital just 34 minutes from the original 999 call.

Jeff Morris, of Bryncethin ambulance station, said: “They arrived on scene in outstanding time and joined the land crew in actively treating the patient. With great skill and professionalism they continued treatment in-flight, while negotiating bad weather and communicating with the hospital.

“The entire operation was one of speed and impact, which saved this man’s life.”

This will be the crew’s second commendation for the mission, after being presented with the Gail Williams Award for clinical and operational excellence by the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

The crew will be presented with the Air Ambulance Team Award on October 27 by Dr Peter Griffin as part of the ASI Awards 2010.