Boxing Day Tsunami
The 26th December 2004 is a day that will be etched into my heart forever; it was very nearly my last. My family and Imiraculously survived one of the most destructive natural disasters on record: the monstrous tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake. Over 230,000 people from 14 different countries were killed and I am grateful, every day, that I was not one of them.
Wildly excited, we flew to Bangkok just three days before Christmas and travelled the short distance to our apartment on the picturesque beachfront of Khao Lak. It had all the ingredients of the best holiday ever: ocean-swimming, breath-taking excursions, sunshine and even Christmas presents.
On Boxing Day morning, we were still lounging around while, unknown to us, the colossal wave was gathering momentumnearby. We hadn’t felt the earthquake so there was no warning; nothing prepared us for what was about to unfold. Suddenly, there was a monstrous noise which sounded like a failing jet engine. I remember my mum jumping out of her skin. Immediately, we hurried to the balcony. There was barely time to take in the catastrophic scene before Dad began yelling and dragging us away. Water was flooding in from under the door. In a matter of seconds, it had risen up to our knees. Afraid and disorientated, wedesperatelyscrambled to escape from the apartment as the windows started to cave in. My younger brother fell as the glass shattered everywhere.Without stopping, my mum quickly grabbed his arm and hauled him along.
Outside, the noise was deafening: the screaming of crowds being swept away from the beach; the roaring of the waves and the explosions of buildings collapsing. Chairs, tables, T.Vs and debris floated past, bashing into us. ThenIspotted something else. SomethingIwishIhad not seen – a child’s body. My instinct was to close my eyes, however,I was terrified of losing my family. Someone was shouting at us to head up the hill to the Temple. As we climbed higher and higher, I dared to look down. That’s when the magnitude of the situation struck me-it was complete carnage and devastation.
Finally, we reached the temple where we were given sanctuary by the kind-hearted monks. After what seemed like a lifetime, we were rescued and taken to a local hospital. Twelve years later, I still remember every detail of this life-changing experience, especiallyat Christmas. I will be forever in awe of the volunteers who toiled long days,in the fetid heat and humidity,to rescue the survivors and retrieve the many, many dead bodies.