It is known as one of the worst natural disasters in modern history. Today marks 20 years since a powerful earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a huge tsunami that killed around 230,000 people across a dozen countries.
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand were the worst affected countries with more than 170,000 people dying in Indonesia alone. Thousands of tourists, many visiting beach resorts in Sri Lanka and Thailand, were also caught up in the disaster, which claimed the lives of 149 Brits.
Today prayers were said for the victims as people gathered in the affected countries for memorial services. And on this milestone anniversary we take a look back at those from the North East who were caught up in the devastating disaster.
Tyneside-born grandfather Brian Clayton died a hero as he tried to save drowning children in Thailand. The 58-year-old, who had moved to Australia from Walker, in Newcastle, was holidaying at his favourite beauty spot when the giant waves struck. His wife Patsy, then 57, scrambled to safety but Brian re-entered the deadly waters to help children.
His body was discovered the following day by rescue teams on Patong Beach, on the island of Phuket. At the time, Patsy said: “It all happened so quickly. One minute the waters were calm and the next minute he was getting sucked into the ocean.
“I ran for safety but he went back in to rescue the children. He was not only my husband but my best friend and was always by my side. I will miss him terribly.”
Other North East tourists caught up in the tragedy told the Chronicle at the time how they ran for their lives to escape the waves.
(Image: PA)
Grandad Arnie Baggs, then 66, of Kilburn Green, in Gateshead, was enjoying a relaxing break in Sri Lanka with his wife Joan, then 64, and 15-year-old grandson, Jason Smith, when disaster struck. Arnie described scenes of devastation after he watched three local children being swept out to sea as the first wave hit.
The wave left surrounding hotels in the Waikkal resort, north of Colombo, destroyed but Arnie and his family were able to find safety in the second floor of their accommodation before more powerful waves hit the resort. “We ran down to the sea front because we thought the hotel staff were looking for dolphins,” he said at the time.
“We all went to the edge of the water and then the sea just went out about 30 to 40 feet in minutes. Then it came back and hotel staff came and told everyone to go back into the hotel grounds and on to the second floor.
(Image: AP)
“We were very lucky. We were on the second floor when the strongest wave hit but three local kids were washed off the rocks. When the big wave came in it obliterated the swimming pool and we could see it turning brown. Beds were being pushed through windows and the hotel rooms were soaked.”
Meanwhile Debbie Young, then 37, an advertising sales trainer of Chapel House, Newcastle, told how she fled from the beach on the Malaysian island of Langkawi as she saw the tsunami approaching. Debbie said at the time: “The water was like a speeding train and we had to run for our lives.”
Matthew Walsh, then 21, of Lanchester, County Durham, also cheated death when he took a boat trip off Phi Phi island just minutes before the giant waves crashed into the idyllic coastline. He had missed an earlier boat when pals Jack Harrison and David McNiven, both 21, of Jesmond, Newcastle, failed to turn up after sleeping in.
Matthew returned to the island to discover the true devastation caused by the disaster which has killed thousands and destroyed hotels and bars. Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle as they left the island, former politics student Matthew said: “It was hell on earth. There were rotting bodies everywhere, open sewage systems and total devastation.
“There were bodies washing in and out of the water. When we got back to the pier, people were fishing them out of the water. There weren’t many survivors. The fact we are here today is a miracle. I doubt very much anyone on the main island will have survived.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/boxing-day-tsunami-20-years-30661758
