A MAN who was just 30 minutes from death and left on a life-support machine after a vicious, unprovoked attack has spoken of his ordeal for the first time.

Lee Morse had been on a night out with friends in Pontarddulais when cocaine-user Rhys Higgins, aged 19, attacked him.

The 27-year-old was found lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to hospital after sustaining a severe brain injury.

His attacker was this week sentenced to two years in a young offender institution by Swansea Crown Court.

But despite justice having been done, Mr Morse said he was still struggling to come to terms with what happened.

He said: "It has had a big effect on me.

"I was 30 minutes from death at one stage.

"I used to be quite outgoing, but nowadays I get very edgy and wary of going out.

"My confidence has taken a bit of a blow.

"When I go out, it's for an hour at most.

"I'm still taking mild anti-depressants — though I am hoping to come off them soon.

"I've also had my driving licence revoked because of the injuries I sustained, in case I have a seizure."

On September 4 last year, sports fan Mr Morse watched the Wales V Italy under-21 football match at The Liberty Stadium.

After the game, he called into see his friends at local pub The Farmers Arms, setting off home to his mum and dads just after midnight.

"My mates asked if I wanted to wait a while, so we could walk back together," he added.

"But I told them not to bother and I would go back on my own."

But moments later, while on the phone to his girlfriend outside the pub, he encountered Rhys Higgins, from Heol y Waun, Pontlliw.

A disturbance erupted outside the pub when two men got into a fight after a row over a woman.

As Higgins tried to break up the fight, he was punched in the face and his nose began to bleed.

During Higgins's trial, a judge heard that night the teen had been taking cocaine and drinking heavily.

Higgins was incensed at having been hit and, when he saw Mr Morse walking along the street, mistakenly thought he had been involved in the incident.

He lashed out, knocking Lee down with a single punch — leaving him lying on the road unconscious and bleeding heavily.

Mr Morse recalled: "All I remember was walking down the street and, the next thing I knew, I woke up in hospital with tubes coming out of me.

"I had been on life-support machine.

"It was the most frightening experience of my life."

He was unaware he had been rushed to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales for life-saving surgery.

He was later transferred back to Swansea's Morriston Hospital, where he would remain for almost two months.

"I needed a lot of physiotherapy because the part of my brain which controls movement had been injured," he said.

"I'm still going back and forth for check-ups."

Five months on from the attack, qualified mechanic Mr Morse is now back at work at Station Garage, in St Teilo Street.

He described the support he has been given from people in the community as amazing.

During his time in hospital, friends rallied around the well-liked rock-music fan — with a "get-well Lee Morse" Facebook group attracting more than 800 members.

"I never knew I was well-liked.

"I viewed me as being a bit on the grumpy side," he smiled.

"The support I've had from people in the Bont has been unbelievable.

"People are always asking how I am and wishing me well.

"I'm incredibly thankful to my family and friends, as well as my boss Hywel for keeping my job at the garage.

"My job is a great part of my social life and many of the customers I've become good friends with.

"Getting back to work has really helped me move on with things."

However, Mr Morse said he felt his attacker's sentence was far too lenient.

"Two years was not enough. I almost died," he added.

"He should have got at least five years.

"But I just want to put the whole thing behind me now and get on with my life.

"I'm looking forward to getting my drivers licence back in the next six months.

"I just want to put the whole thing behind me and go back to normal."

ben.wright@swwmedia.co.uk