FAMILY and colleagues of a soldier, who died in a hit-and-run accident in America, climbed to the peak of Pen y Fan this weekend in his memory.

Greg Symonds, 31, of Ponthir, suffered head injuries after he was hit by a car in Santa Monica, California earlier this year.

The father-of-two described as a “superhero” by his friends, was on duty with the Parachute Regiment in the country while his wife Tamsin, 35, remained in Newport.

The pair had married in 2012, with Mrs Symonds flying out to be at his bedside before he died in March at a Los Angeles hospital.

This weekend, family and colleagues climbed Pen y Fan, in Brecon Beacons, to remember Mr Symonds, raising £2,000 in aid of the SSAFA, a bereavement charity who provide continued support to the forces and their families.

The walk was arranged by nine-year-old Isabelle Louise Mckim, who was Tamsin and Greg’s flower girl at their wedding and Greg’s 11-year-old cousin, Teah Vowles. The pair were joined by several other family and friends for the walk.

To reflect Greg’s love of Pen y Fan, family placed a plaque in his memory at the mountain’s peak.

Their JustGiving page received donations from The Celtic Manor, Llanwern Golf Club, Brandwell’s Construction Co Ltd, Events for Wales and The Old Barn Inn.

In the wake of Greg’s death, a GoFundMe page - set up by family friend Kyle Burrows to offer financial support to Greg wife and two children - received around £7,600 from more than 260 people.

Paying tribute to his friend on the page, Mr Burrows described Mr Symonds as a “superhero”.

The Santa Monica Police Department in California are still investigating the suspected hit and run.