A Wolverhampton man who risked his life to treat and rescue people injured in a rail crash received a commendation for bravery today.

Paramedic Stuart Alves helped despite fears of an explosion at the Stafford rail crash.

He was awarded a Board Citation by Staffordshire Ambulance Service Trust chairman William Gourlay. Ambulance spokesman Bob Lee said Stuart, who is in his 40s and from Wolverhampton, was one of the first on the scene.

"His initial situation report meant we knew exactly what resources we needed to employ,'' said Mr Lee. "This is unusual so early on in a major incident because of the state of confusion, but Stuart gave us such accurate information.

"With risk to his own safety Stuart got onto the train despite the fact it was thought there was a gas leakage and risk of an explosion.

"His first thought was to get medical attention to the patients and get them out.''

The leak from a freight wagon turned out to be carbon dioxide which is not inflammable but causes breathing difficulties.

Scottish postal worker John Thomson, aged 57, was killed and more than 20 people injured when a Royal Mail sorting train hit a derailed freight train on Friday March 8.

Another postal worker Tommy Poynts, aged 59, of Glasgow, has died of his injuries since.

The driver of the freight train was today named as Terence Wright, based at Bescot, Walsall.

He escaped unhurt after leaping out of his locomotive after an axle broke and the freight train derailed moments before the collision.

Mr Wright tried to lay detonators on the opposite track to warn on-coming trains of the hazard and then trigger warning signals.

A Rail Express Systems spokesman said Mr Wright did not have enough time.