A TEENAGE motorcyclist has said he cannot thank heroic AA mechanic Stuart Smith enough for saving his life when an accident left him trapped beneath a car.

Ryan Welland was crushed beneath a Ford Mondeo after he lost control of his YBR Yamaha 125 following a scrape with another car on February 7.

The 17-year-old's head was wedged between the car's exhaust pipe and one of its back wheels.

The accident happened in Micklefield Road, right outside the house of Automobile Association mechanic Stuart Smith who made headlines on New Year's Day when he spent five hours dismantling the dashboard of a car to rescue a pet hamster trapped inside.

When his wife heard the crash, Stuart rushed to Ryan's aid and used his tools to jack up the car, raising it off his chest and allowing him to breathe until the ambulance arrived.

Ryan said: "I remember opening my eyes under the car. I didn't know where I was but I remember hearing someone shout Are you alright, mate?' "I told him I couldn't breathe. After he lifted the car off me, he stayed with me the whole time under the car until I left in the ambulance. He only ever left to fetch tools or blankets from his van."

After 15 minutes, paramedics arrived and gave Ryan an oxygen supply. It took a further 30 minutes for firefighters to get him out from under the car using a neck brace and a back board.

Amazingly, when Ryan's mum, Laraine, arrived at the scene she recognised Stuart as a former classmate from Micklefield Primary School - the first time they had seen one another for around 30 years.

She said: "He saved his life. If he hadn't acted so quickly Ryan wouldn't be here today. Letting him breathe within a couple of minutes saved his life - all the staff at the hospital told us that."

When Stuart visited Ryan a few days later, the Welland family gave him a bottle of whiskey as a thank you.

Ryan said: "It's not enough for what he did. I could win the lottery and give him all the money and it still wouldn't make up for what he did."

Ryan passed his motorcycle licence in October last year. His bike was a surprise birthday present a fortnight later.

The accident happened as he made the short journey from his home in Hawthorne Road to the Costcutter shop in Micklefield Road.

A few days later, when Stuart entered the shop, he was applauded and cheered by staff and customers.

Mrs Welland, a 40-year-old childminder, said: "I've told the whole of Micklefield that he saved my son's life. If Stuart hadn't reacted so quickly, Ryan wouldn't be here today.

"He's so modest. He just said he did what anyone would have done."

Ryan was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital where he was diagnosed with severe whiplash to his spine and neck, as well as bruising and swelling.

He has begun a rehabilitation programme of light exercises and a course of physiotherapy at Wycombe Hospital.

Now the teenager says he is looking forward to getting back to his bricklaying course at Cressex Community School and his part-time job at Frankie and Benny's restaurant in Crest Road.