I took one of the most famous photos of the Aberfan disaster - it still haunts me
Summary
The Aberfan disaster was a tragic event in Wales where a collapsing coal waste pile buried a school and nearby homes, killing 144 people including many children. Mel Parry, an 18-year-old apprentice photographer, took a famous photo of an officer carrying an eight-year-old girl to safety, a picture that won an award but deeply affected him.Key Facts
- The Aberfan disaster happened in 1966 in a village in south Wales.
- A colliery spoil tip (coal mining waste pile) collapsed, covering a primary school and houses.
- 116 children and 28 adults died in the disaster.
- Mel Parry was a young photographer who took a well-known photo showing PC Victor Jones carrying eight-year-old Susan Maybank.
- Parry was on a bus and took photos immediately after hearing the school had fallen.
- The photo won the British News Photographer of the Year award in 1966.
- Despite the photo’s success, Parry quit photography because the tragedy affected him deeply.
- The image remains a powerful symbol of the disaster and its emotional impact.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.