Aberfan survivor dies after catching Covid: Man, 63, pulled from rubble of 1966 disaster passes away nearly three weeks after testing positive
A survivor of the Aberfan disaster in 1966 has now died after contracting coronavirus.
Bernard Thomas, 63, died on January 6 from the coronavirus, though his family are unsure over where he contracted the virus.
His brother, Andrew told the BBC: 'Bernard was a real character and his death has come as a shock to us as a family and the community of Aberfan.'
Bernard Thomas, 63, died on January 6 from the coronavirus, though his family are unsure over where he contracted the virus
Andrew said that his brother had had an eye appointment at the Royal Glamorgan hospital on December 21 and then tested positive for the virus a few days later.
Andrew said that he had been able to speak with Bernard regularly while he was in the hospital, despite receiving oxygen through a mask.
'It's a huge shock but I don't blame anybody,' Andrew said.
Bernard had been just nine-years-old when he was rescued from the rubble of Pantglas primary school following the Aberfan disaster of 1966.
After the disaster: The Queen and Prince Philip visiting Aberfan following the disaster on October 29, 1966
A total of 144 people were killed by the disaster - 116 of which had been primary school-aged children.
Fifty years after the disaster, Bernard was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress and he told S4C that he still heard 'children screaming'.
Bernard leaves behind his 90-year-old mother Gwen and his brothers Andrew and Robert.
What was the Aberfan disaster?
On October 21, 1966, Wales and the rest of the UK was brought to its knees when a massive coal waste tip crashed down the mountainside of the mining village of Aberfan, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
With an almighty roar the black avalanche engulfed everything in its path, including Pantglas Junior School, where lessons had just begun.
Minutes after the natural disaster at around 9.15am that day, the village had lost half of its children.
Desperate parents rushed to the scene and clawed at the mud with their bare hands, clinging to the hope that the sons and daughters they waved off just hours earlier might still be alive.
Ultimately five teachers and 109 children from the school were declared dead.
Pictured: The scene that sums up the agony of Aberfan when in 1966 116 children and 28 adults died as a result of a spoil tip slide
The disaster was the result of one of seven spoil tips, which sat on the slopes above the village, collapsing.
The one that fell was established in 1958 and 111ft (34m) high.
The structure went against the National Coal Board 's rules, as it was partly built on ground with water springs underneath.
As a result of three weeks of heavy rain, the tip became saturated and around 140,000 cubic yards (110,00m cubed) slipped down the side of the hill.
An official enquiry into the tragedy was chaired by Lord Justice Edmund Davies and eventually blamed owners NCB for what happened.
With an almighty roar the black avalanche engulfed everything in its path, including Pantglas Junior School, where lessons had just begun
NCB chairman Lord Robens was criticised for giving misleading information about whether he knew whether there were water springs on the hillside.
But no charges were brought against the NCB or its employees.
The Aberfan Disaster Memorial Fund was set up on the day and raised £1.75million.
It took a bitter battle on behalf of local residents to get the other tips on the hillside removed.
The clearing was paid for by the Welsh government and the memorial fund.
Several people who survived the disaster suffered long-term health problems, with many left with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The disaster was the result of one of seven spoil tips, which sat on the slopes above the village, collapsing
What was the Aberfan disaster?
On October 21, 1966, Wales and the rest of the UK was brought to its knees when a massive coal waste tip crashed down the mountainside of the mining village of Aberfan, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
With an almighty roar the black avalanche engulfed everything in its path, including Pantglas Junior School, where lessons had just begun.
Minutes after the natural disaster at around 9.15am that day, the village had lost half of its children.
Desperate parents rushed to the scene and clawed at the mud with their bare hands, clinging to the hope that the sons and daughters they waved off just hours earlier might still be alive.
Ultimately five teachers and 109 children from the school were declared dead.
Pictured: The scene that sums up the agony of Aberfan when in 1966 116 children and 28 adults died as a result of a spoil tip slide
The disaster was the result of one of seven spoil tips, which sat on the slopes above the village, collapsing.
The one that fell was established in 1958 and 111ft (34m) high.
The structure went against the National Coal Board 's rules, as it was partly built on ground with water springs underneath.
As a result of three weeks of heavy rain, the tip became saturated and around 140,000 cubic yards (110,00m cubed) slipped down the side of the hill.
An official enquiry into the tragedy was chaired by Lord Justice Edmund Davies and eventually blamed owners NCB for what happened.
With an almighty roar the black avalanche engulfed everything in its path, including Pantglas Junior School, where lessons had just begun
NCB chairman Lord Robens was criticised for giving misleading information about whether he knew whether there were water springs on the hillside.
But no charges were brought against the NCB or its employees.
The Aberfan Disaster Memorial Fund was set up on the day and raised £1.75million.
It took a bitter battle on behalf of local residents to get the other tips on the hillside removed.
The clearing was paid for by the Welsh government and the memorial fund.
Several people who survived the disaster suffered long-term health problems, with many left with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The disaster was the result of one of seven spoil tips, which sat on the slopes above the village, collapsing