It's 20 years today since the most deadly natural disaster in recorded history struck. About 230,000 people lost their lives as the tsunami consumed everything in its path.
Everyone who was there became part of the disaster.
Random choices you make in life can have enormous consequences. My OH's eldest brother and his wife were two of the survivors whose spur of the moment decision on Christmas Day undoubtedly saved their lives. They were swimming in the sea and my BIL noticed a playing card floating face down in the water. He idly turned it over - it was the ace of Diamonds. They had planned to take a boat from the hotel to one of two beaches on Boxing Day, and as one of them was called Diamond Beach, that was where they went. It saved their lives.
They were relaxing on the beach when BIL noticed some people pointing out to sea. He stood up and looked, and as a Geography teacher realised what was happening. Yelling at everyone to run, he and SIL ran up the incredibly steep cliffs surrounding the beach and escaped the devastation that followed. He said afterwards that he was amazed at how they didn't even notice how steep the cliffs were - adrenaline lent wings to their feet.
Stranded at the top of the cliffs, they did what they could to help others, and were rescued about 3 days later.
Ironically, we, the family, thought they were in Jakarta and had no idea that they were in such danger.
Sadly there were no survivors from the other beach.
Everyone who was there became part of the disaster.
Random choices you make in life can have enormous consequences. My OH's eldest brother and his wife were two of the survivors whose spur of the moment decision on Christmas Day undoubtedly saved their lives. They were swimming in the sea and my BIL noticed a playing card floating face down in the water. He idly turned it over - it was the ace of Diamonds. They had planned to take a boat from the hotel to one of two beaches on Boxing Day, and as one of them was called Diamond Beach, that was where they went. It saved their lives.
They were relaxing on the beach when BIL noticed some people pointing out to sea. He stood up and looked, and as a Geography teacher realised what was happening. Yelling at everyone to run, he and SIL ran up the incredibly steep cliffs surrounding the beach and escaped the devastation that followed. He said afterwards that he was amazed at how they didn't even notice how steep the cliffs were - adrenaline lent wings to their feet.
Stranded at the top of the cliffs, they did what they could to help others, and were rescued about 3 days later.
Ironically, we, the family, thought they were in Jakarta and had no idea that they were in such danger.
Sadly there were no survivors from the other beach.
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