Supermodel Petra Nemcova says it’s still ‘difficult’ to discuss tsunami survivor on 20th anniversary

twenty years ago Petra Nemcova he was waking up the morning after Christmas and getting ready to leave his holiday in Thailand when disaster struck.

In 2004, Nemcova was 25 and on holiday with her fashion photographer boyfriend, Simon Atlee, when a tsunami damaged their bungalow along the Andaman coast.

A magnitude 9.5 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia caused the world’s worst tsunami.

Petra Nemcova recalled the “pain” she still feels 20 years after the devastating tsunami in Thailand. (Getty Images)

Atlee was swept away by the waves and was not found for three months, and the young supermodel had to cling to a palm tree for eight hours to survive.

SUPERMODEL PETRA NEMCOVA BEFORE THE ‘SPLIT SECOND’ BEFORE ALMOST RISING IN THE 2004 TSUNAMI

ABC News’ Diane Sawyer Nemcova interviewed before the 20th anniversary of the tragic natural disaster.

Now 45, she said the pain of hearing the children’s screams and not being able to help them is still “strong” with her “every day”.

“It’s always difficult to go back to that moment when my life changed.”

— Petra Nemcova

“It’s always difficult to go back to that moment when my life changed,” she told Sawyer.

On December 26, 2004, Nemcova and Atlee were sitting inside Khao Lak, Thailand – preparing to end their journey when the tsunami hit.

Speaking of depending on a palm tree for her survival, Nemcova said: “I went into this stillness, almost like a meditative state, because I knew that if I start to panic, you lose more energy. And I needed all my energy to stay alive. .”

Atlee’s body was discovered and identified on March 3, 2004. He was among nearly 230,000 people believed to have died in the tsunami.

Simon Atlee, Petra Nemcova’s boyfriend at the time, did not survive the tsunami. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage)

It was a miracle that Nemcova survived. When she was rescued, her clothes were torn and she suffered a fractured pelvis and internal injuries, GMA reported.

The people who saved Nemcova were foreigners. They gave her clothes, put her on a mattress and pushed her through the debris to get medical help.

“Those people were ready to risk their lives for foreigners,” Nemcova said. “And that shows you the best in humanity.”

Petra Nemcova clung to a palm tree to save her life. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

In November, Nemcova said People“It all happened in split seconds. I looked up and saw frantic movement and people jumping and then the next second the wave crashes into the bungalow and breaks all the windows.”

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Nemcova recalled her last moment with Atlee as shards of glass cut her.

“I heard Simon scream my name and that was the last time I heard him.”

The model tried to hold on, but eventually “let go”.

Petra Nemkova and Simon Atlee were packing to leave their holiday in Thailand at the time of the tsunami. (Photo by Michel Dufour/WireImage)

“At one point, I couldn’t breathe anymore. And I thought, “This is it.” This is my last moment and I let go, and actually it was the happiest moment of my life,” explained Nemcova.

“And then, by a miracle, I could see the sky again.”

She could not feel or move her legs at that time as she listened to the children’s screams.

“Half an hour later, I haven’t heard from them,” Nemcova told People. “And that meant they couldn’t resist. I couldn’t swim out (to them) because I was caught in the debris. That day, I couldn’t help myself. I had no choice.”

After surviving, Nemcova set out to give back.

Petra Nemcova founded the Happy Hearts Fund in 2005. (Photo by R. Born/WireImage)

She created the Happy Hearts Fund in 2005 as a way to rebuild schools in areas affected by natural disasters.

“Hearing the children crying for help and not being able to help them, that leaves such a strong mark,” explained Nemcova. “Today and every day, I have a choice to help.”

Since 2005, the Happy Hearts Fund has grown into All Hands and Hearts.

The organization will reach out to areas about to be hit by natural disasters to help prepare and then rebuild homes and schools afterward, according to People.

Petra Nemcova flew back to Thailand in 2005 to honor Simon Atlee. (Photo by Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Nemcova traveled back to Thailand in 2005 to honor Atlee. supermodel he also chose to deal with his fear of water by scuba diving during the trip.

“I went under the water and I panicked,” Nemcova recalled to the outlet. “My heart was going so fast and I just couldn’t even breathe properly, but it’s very important not to live a life without any fear. That’s why I did it.”

She admitted that it took several years for “the sounds of palm leaves crashing on the roof of a hotel or bungalow” to stop rekindling her memories.

“And then he lost power over me,” Nemcova explained. “If you appreciate the gift of air, if you appreciate the ability to move your legs, everything is so much richer. Your life is happier. You’re living instead of surviving.”

Petra Nemcova will light candles on December 26 in honor of the lost lives. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

On December 26, Nemcova told ABC News that she would be with All Hands and Hearts volunteers, lighting candles in memory of the lives lost during the 2004 natural disaster.

“We will invite everyone to join us in lighting a candle to bring more light to the world,” she said.

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Among the All Hands and Hearts volunteers is Atlee’s family.

In 2019, Nemcova married entrepreneur Benjamin Larretche, and the couple share a son, Bodhi.

Petra Nemcova married Benjamina Larretche in 2019. (Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images)

“I have a beautiful son and husband and there are so many blessings to be thankful for,” she said, noting that Atlee’s family has been nothing but kind and loving to her since the disaster.

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“I was lucky because I met my other twin flame… Ben is my twin flame and he’s an incredible soul and I feel so lucky because I didn’t know it was going to happen,” Nemcova said. Sawyer.