After sifting through 10 tonnes of rubbish for two and a half hours with the help of a thermal imaging camera, the group finally found Montezuma nestled in a black bag full of litter.
Paying tribute to the Veolia waste management staff, Ms Joiner said: “Thank you is never going to be enough. It was amazing teamwork; there was no nonsense about it just enormous goodwill in finding him.”
10 tonnes: Ms Joiner and waste management officers spent two and half hours going through rubbish
Westminster Council
Ms Joiner, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, and volunteers with the MS Trust, has owned the male spurred tortoise for four decades.
Veolia contract manager Lynn Davis said: “I'm delighted that were able to find Zuma and return him to Mrs Joiner unharmed, he really has survived against the odds.”
