Lewis Hamilton has shared a heartfelt message of support to NHS staff battling the Coronavirus, alongside a video message from Petula Rees, who works as an Operating Department Practitioner at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

 

The six-time Formula One World Champion shared the video to his 20 million followers on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Hamilton wrote “In the midst of what is one of the hardest times for people around the world but even more to those providing services.

“I am so in awe of you, you guys are the real heroes. Thank you to everyone all of you frontline workers, the NHS you all inspire me to do more in helping people.

“Let’s never give up caring and helping those who need it most My thoughts and prayers are with you.”

In the video message Petula said: “Lewis Hamilton is my favourite but I love them all, but I do love Lewis Hamilton.

“When I’ve got a problem, I’m a very deep person, I keep things to myself. But his words ‘never give up’ keep me going.

“They have kept me going on a lot of occasions. I always tell my patients, before the Covid-19 arrived to never give up. Because they come and they are so vulnerable and so ill.

“They don’t see us with our full faces. We’ve always got masks on and visors on. The masks we’ve got at the moment are very tight fitting. We get marks on our faces when we wear them for a long time and it’s very hard to hear.

“I’m sure these patients can’t hear us very well. So I came up with a little idea and I wrote on my little face mask. I’ve just written ‘never give up’ and a little heart.

“So whenever I put this mask on, I always point to it for the patients and tell them to ‘never give up’. My message to everybody at home is wash your hands, stay safe, stay home.

“And Lewis Hamilton, thank you for giving me those words that keep me going. And I hope those words are going to help a lot of people in the future.”

Hamilton’s team Mercedes are currently working in collaboration with their UK-based rivals as part of Project Pitlane to deliver technological support and equipment to the NHS.