FIREFIGHTERS had to give a crash victim life-saving first aid after it took an ambulance 25 minutes to get there.

Trowbridge watch manager Guy Tadman praised his crew, who rushed to the aid of a man aged 21 after he was seriously injured in the crash in Wingfield at 6.45pm on Wednesday.

The crash happened at 6.45pm on Wingfield Road near Farleigh Hungerford when a silver Renault Clio left the road and hit a tree before flipping on its roof.

Fire crews and police officers raced to the scene near Stowford Manor Farm. There was another 21-year-old in the car as well.

It is believed it took nearly 25 minutes before a paramedic arrived and a further 20 minutes before an ambulance turned up.

An appliance and the Heavy Rescue Unit from Trowbridge Fire Station, as well as a unit from Westbury, attended the scene.

Mr Tadman said: “We were there to help and both these guys had difficulty breathing and were bleeding heavily and our lads did what they had to until the professionals arrived.

“We have a basic trauma life support training but we are no way as qualified as the professional paramedics and medical staff. We were able to stabilise the situation and keep someone alive.

"The lads did very well to control the situation and I’m proud of the way they helped with first aid.”

The passenger was rushed to Southmead Hospital in Bristol with a spleen injury while the driver was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath with a minor head injury.

The road was closed for nearly four hours.

A spokesman for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said it was called out at 18.38 and was on the scene by 19.05pm.

They added: “If the families have any concerns and would like to discuss the incident we would encourage them to contact our patient experience team.”

Debbie Fox commented on Facebook: "Thank so much for all that gave their support last night at the scene. My son was one of the lads a passenger in the car .. I can't thank you all enough. . .

"My son is criticality ill and in intensive care very poorly at Southmead Hospital... X X

"Any info welcome as we are still clueless to what happened."