A ‘good Samaritan’ from Pontsian who dashed to the rescue of motorists stranded in the snow on Wednesday night is awaiting a kidney and pancreas transplant, it has emerged.

Carwyn Jones saw drivers appealing for help on social media, and leapt into his 4x4 and headed off towards central Ceredigion, where conditions were at their worst.

He pulled a number of cars and vans free of the drifts, and also ferried a number of grateful people home.

Mr Jones, 33, who formerly ran CJ Tyres in Crymych until being forced to give up work due to renal failure, said: “Going out in my own 4x4 is a way of giving back to healthcare professionals for the time and help they have given me.”

Mr Jones undergoes home dialysis treatment five times a week, and is on the waiting list for a double transplant.

“Unfortunately someone has to pass away and be kind enough to donate either their or a loved one’s organs so I can have a better quality of life,” he said.

But his condition didn’t stop him springing into action to help others when snow hit the county, leaving people stranded.

“It was especially bad up Cwmann and Ffarmers way, as well as Talsarn and Tychrug Hill – there were a few farmers out on tractors giving people a tow,” he told the Cambrian News.

“I was shocked to see very few gritters out on the road.

“It’s fine having gritters out on the main roads, but people use country lanes also and then you also have people who depend on homecare coming out.

“Drivers were more than grateful to those who came out in their 4x4s in their own time to help all over the county.

“I guess the motivation to go out was to help people in need and to make sure everyone got home safe - I’m sure many others that night felt the same.”

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now