NHS tribute captured by Google cam

A TRIBUTE to NHS staff created by a Pontypridd dad and his children has been captured by Google cameras.

The tribute was left near the River Taff in Pontypridd by the town’s deputy mayor Carl Thomas and his two sons, 16-year-old Joshua, 16, and 12-year-old Jack.

The trio spent 90 minutes making the two-metre-tall rock display while walking their dog over the Easter weekend last year.

It has since washed away following heavy rain and rising river levels – but the tribute has been immortalised on Google Maps.

Carl said: “They’ve had to work under extreme conditions in the past year because of the pandemic and this was just a big thank you for everything they do.

“We knew it wasn’t going to going to last, but I wasn’t expecting Google to take a picture of it while it was still there.”

After being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2009, Mr Thomas was keen to show his support for the staff of the lifesaving service, who have faced tremendous difficulties throughout the past year.

“The NHS has always been there for me, my family and people I know and provided support in difficult times and the pandemic has been like no other,” he added.

“There is a tremendous amount of community spirit still left in society you just need to tap into it.

“Unfortunately, it’s taken something like the flooding in Pontypridd in February last year and Covid for some of those people to become known, but this pandemic has brought a lot of communities back together.”