TSUNAMI SURVIVOR STORIES

Saturday, December 26, 2009

This website is about SURVIVAL. On December 26, 2004, hundreds of thousands of people witnesses, experienced and survived a tsunami. This weblog by Rick Von Feldt journals their experiences of survival. (Rick Vonfeldt)

INDEX - Where to start

PHUKET TSUNAMI started out as one person's blog on what he saw in PHUKET THAILAND. It has now grown in to more than that - with many other FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS from Asia on what people saw and experienced in the TSUNAMI of December 26, 2004

THE FIRST 60 MINUTES of the BIG ATTACK. Photo - Start here NATURES UGLY HAND - WHAT WE SAW

RICK VON FELDT'S 10-PART first hand account and journal entries.
Part 1: THE BEGINNING: What I had to say before the the electricity went out again Part 1: THE BEGINNING
Part 2: THE FIRST HOUR - What really happened Part 2: THE FIRST HOUR
Part 3: AFTER THE FIRST TWO WAVES: People lived in fear for hours Part 3: AFTER THE FIRST TWO WAVES
Part 4: THE DAY AFTER - PULLING OUT THE BODIES Part 4: THE DAY AFTER
Part 5: NIGHTTIME WITHOUT ELECTRICITY - A reflection after the horror Part 5: NIGHTIME
Part 6: THE AGONY OF LEAVING - Writing from the airport Part 6: LEAVING
Part 7: WE DIDNT UNDERTAND - WE WERE JUST PARALYZED -Others begin to reflect Part 7: UNDERSTANDING?
Part 8: BACK HOME - FEELING GUILTY Part 8: BACK HOME and FEELIN GUILTY
Part 9: WHAT WOULD YOU GRAB IN 5 MINTUES? Part 9: WHAT WOULD YOU GRAB?
Part 10: AND THERE ARE NO DOGS Part 10: AND THERE ARE NO DOGS

MUST READ is Luke Simmonds amazing story of being out to sea sailing - and getting swept inland with the tsunami - only to go on to help out others who were hurt and injured! LUKE SIMMONDS

27 PHOTOS - Rick Vonfeldt took 27 photos immediately after the disaster. You can see the devistation to Patong Beach. PHOTOS OF THE WRECKAGE

A FIVE MINUTE EXCERPT from National Public Radioof Rick Von Feldt's journal read on NPR RADIO Go here to LISTEN: JOURNAL READ ONLINE

AND YOU MUST READ about Julie and son Casey who helped rescue over 50 people floating in the water after the first wave!

ABOUT RICK VON FELDT

Rick Von Feldt, an American, was based in Asia at the time of the tsunami. From the moment the tsunami hit in Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, he documented his observations and insights to the emotion and devistation. Later, his goal was to establish a website for other survivors to post their experiences. But it also serves as a purpose for others to learn first hand what happened in those awful moments of the tsunami. The website has been featured on CNN, BBC, numerous newspapers and magazines - and is featured now as part of text books and cirriculm for students to learn about what happened.
You can write to Rick at: rvonfeldt@yahoo.com

11 FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS

- SWIMMING THROUGH CROCODILES for saftey
- IN AN ELEVATOR when the WAVE HIT
- BEST WRITING about COPING with being a survivor!
- Shenth Ravindra on train in Sri Lanka
- Stuart Lock, Maldives, on his honeymoon
- Katie and David Appleton in Thailand
- Scott Raderstorf and their "round the world" trip / interuption!
- Fred Roberts in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- Mark Rochefort in the Andaman Islands
- Ernest Rodriguez in Thailand
- Cenues from Sri Lanka

15 MORE SURVIVOR STORIES

SURVIVOR DAVE LOWEDAVE LOWE Dave was working in Maldives, when water taller than the entire island hit. Read his heroic and frightening story.. And an UPDATE from Dave after he went back for the DAVE LOWE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

MARK NELSON Mark was one of those on the GROUND FLOORS of Patong Beach. He was staying at the Ban Thai resort on Patong Beach. He tells of his story when the first wave hit.

DENNIS HOOGENKAMP DENNIS HOOGENKAMP writes a series of emails about his TSUNAMI EXPERIENCES and work in Phuket, Kao Lak, takuapa and Aceh in Sumatra.

SURVIVING PARENTS of Leanne Cox This is a very sad story. Leanne Cox was never found. However, her parents write to letters to their daughter, even thought she never would read them.

SALY HUYTON Four friends are awakened by an earthquake while on the island of Phi Phi. Their story is shocking.

FIONA AND SIMON A boyfriend and a girlfriend come together in Thailand for a much needed vacation – and barely survive.

PAT BENTON Pat describes her and her husband’s “THREE DAYS OF HELL IN KHAO LAK”

FELIX, LOUISE & ZAC IN PHI PHI Man, Women and son fight for their life.

NAOMI BOWMAN’s STORY Naomi Bowman describes her experience on Phi Phi – and what she is now doing to make a difference.

CHARLEY MARSHALL's story Gary Marshall, father of 8 year old Charley – sends in Charley’s word of what happened to him.

SURVIVOR MARK BRANDON (with Jason Beech and Rick Everett)
MARK BRANDON describes the first moments of when the first wave hit as he was standing in the lobby across from the beach…”It wasn’t so much the height of the wave, but its crushing power and speed…” MARK BRANDON, JASON BEECH, RICK EVERETT

SURVIVOR MARK OBERLEMARK OBERLEMark and his family arrive to Phuket and were awoken by the earthquake. As a doctor, he describes what he saw that morning. DOCTOR MARK OBERLE

SURVIVOR ALAN DE ROER and AURELIE FERRANT
ALAN DE ROER and AURELIE FERRANT describe the 8 hours of when the first waves it. “…at 10am I got woken up from screams in the street…” AURELIE FERRANT and ALAN DE ROER

SURVIVOR DOROTHY WILKINSON
DOROTHY WILKINSONand her partner Tom were visiting Tom’s 58 year old parents who had moved to Thailand. They decided to visit the island of Khao Lak. Dorothy’s partner and his parents were washed away. Dorothy snapped her coccyx, crushed three vertebrae, almost severed her left arm at the elbow where there was a hole the size of a tennis ball, and her head was so badly gashed that her skull was exposed. She thought she was going to die. But with the help of others – she survived. DOROTHY WILKINSON and COLIN and CAROLE FAIRBAIRN

SURVIVOR VERNON OLSON
VERNON OLSONwas in Patong when the tsunami smashed into the resort town. Despite being knocked over and swallowed up by the waves, the 66-year-old escaped without serious injury. But he reflects on the 40 people who died around him. VERNON OLSON

Previous Posts

• SURVIVING THE TSUNAMI: Stories of Hope
• What were you doing on DECEMBER 26, 2004 - FIve ye...
• American Samoa Wave
• SAMOA SURVIVOR ERICA WALES
• SAMOA, Sumatra and Indonesia Tsunami and Earthquak...
• INTERACTIVE TSUNAMI WEBSITE from Woods Hole Oceano...
• SURVIVOR: Aaron le Boutillier
• CHAPTER 16: A Washing Machine Springs a Leak
• CHAPTER 17: Rumbles Down Below
• CHAPTER 18: Hey Ma, I'm on top of the World

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