Harpers & Queen

'Witnesses For The Defense'

Harpers & Queen, December 2005

Many of those caught up in the hellish devastation of last December’s tidal wave were moved to unprecedented and extraordinary acts of charity. Here, those who lived through the horror recount their stories, and explain why they were moved to help other victims recover from the destruction.

Petra Nemcova:
The Czech model was on her holiday with her boyfriend Simon Atlee in Khao Lak when the tsunami hit, killing Atlee. She returned to Thailand, set up a charity to hep those affected by the disaster, and wrote a book about her experience.

On Boxing Day 2004, my photographer boyfriend of 18 months, Simon Atlee, and I were on holiday in Khao Lak, Thailand. It was the last day of our trip, and we were slowly packing up, laughing and horsing around, and preparing to go home. The night before, we’d talked about getting married and having children. We were very much in love. My life was complete – I had everything I’d ever dreamed of, and I was with a man I could truly say was my soul mate and the love of my life. Minutes later, the world went dark, and our lives changed forever.

The tsunami hit at 10 am; water swept through the room with incredible force. It jettisoned us outside, and caused the bungalow to crumple inwards like cardboard. Just before the waters separated us, I saw Simon’s face. And heard him scream out: ‘Petra! Petra! What’s happening?’ I saw him once again, sucked away by the swirling waters, as I held onto a piece of roof. ‘Catch the roof!’ I shouted, but he was gone.

Seconds later, the roof gave way, and I was pulled into the water. From every direction, my body was pummelled by sharp, heavy piece of wood, metal and trash – anything that was caught up in the water’s grip. It felt as though my body was breaking apart. I screamed in pain and fear. I thought I was dying – how could I survive this? Panicked, I began ingesting the water, unable to breathe. Then I couldn’t fight anymore. I said to God that if this was my fate, then so be it. I let go, and was filled with a sense of calm.

In that moment, a miracle occurred; the water thrust me up, and the pressure on my body lessened. Naked and unable to move my legs, I looked at the blue sky and took a breath. I was alive. However, the pain was indescribable; beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. I came to with my arms wrapped around a palm tree, bruised and bleeding. Looking down, all I could see was the water, so black and filled with debris that I couldn’t see through it to where the pain was worst: my pelvis. I knew it was broken, and I was unable to move my legs even an inch. For the next eight hours, as I drifted in and out of consciousness, this tree became my lift raft. I prayed that Simon was safe. Around me, I could hear the screams of adults and children – screams that gradually stopped. I was powerless to help them.

Finally, at 6pm, I was rescued and taken to hospital. They confirmed that my pelvis was broken in 4 places, and I was bleeding internally. Despite the morphine they gave me, nothing could block the constant agony. Worse, I didn’t know where Simon was, eventually, I was stabilised enough so I could be flown to a Czech hospital, where I began to recover. Over the months that followed, there was a desperate search for Simon. It wasn’t until March 2005 that we were told he was dead; they had found his body.

I still feel connected to him, and when I cry about him, I can hear him saying: ‘Petra! Stop sobbing and be happy – remember, a day without laughter is a day wasted.’ I know that’s what my beautiful blue-eyed boy would have said, and knowing this has given me not only the courage, but also the will to go on. I have learned to live in the moment and not to waste a second. It’s too bad that it takes a catastrophe to make us realise how precious life is. All experiences make us grow. They give us a chance to improve, to put meaning into our lives, and to think of others.

I returned to Thailand in May 2005, five months after I left. I knew that for me to heal completely, I needed to return to the Country of my greatest sorrow and my greatest joy. Thailand remains dear to me. The Thais are so kind and inspiring, and everything from them is straight form the heart. My aim in returning was to help, so I set up a non-profit-making organisation. I also wrote a memoir, Love Always Petra, to raise additional funds. All proceeds from the book will go to the Give2Asia happy hearts Fund. Rebuilding is underway in areas such as Khao Lak, but it’s still in the early stages. I fear, that all too soon, few will remember what happened, while thousands who were devastated by the tsunami will continue to suffer every day.