Supermodel Petra Nemcova, who miraculously survived a deadly tsunami in 2004 by clinging to a tree with her pelvis crushed, opened up about the horror she faced 20 years ago.
Nemcova sat down for an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America to reflect on her experiences with one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history.
The Czech model, who has featured in Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret campaigns, was on a dream holiday in Thailand with her boyfriend when the terrifying tsunami ripped through their bungalow.
“It’s always difficult to go back to that moment when my life changed,” says the now 45-year-old said during the segmentalso includes footage from her Sawyer’s original interview in 2005, months after the blissful vacation turned into a nightmare.
The tsunami, which killed more than 5,000 people in Thailand, was the result of an earthquake in the Indian Ocean.
It tore through several countries in South Asia, ultimately killing nearly 230,000 people.
Nemcova and Simon Atlee, her photographer boyfriend, were packing their bags to leave the Khao Lak resort on the morning after Christmas in 2004.
Within seconds, powerful waves tore the pair from their bungalow.
Nemcova frantically tried to cling to the crushed debris flowing around her, but the force of the water crushed her pelvic bones and left her without the use of her legs.
Czech supermodel Petra Nemcova sat down for an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, almost two decades to the day after she miraculously survived a deadly 2004 tsunami while in Thailand
The then 25-year-old model was on a dream holiday with her boyfriend when the terrifying tsunami – which killed more than 5,000 people in Thailand – ripped through their bungalow
Against all odds, Nemcova managed to cling to a palm tree where she lay for almost eight hours – completely naked, bleeding internally and in agony from breaking every bone in her pelvis.
The interview, which aired Thursday, came nearly two decades after she first spoke to Sawyer in 2005 — just months after the disaster.
The last she heard from her boyfriend, who died in the disaster, was him screaming her name.
Amid the chaos, Nemcova was able to cling to a palm tree, where she lay for nearly eight hours – all while completely naked, bleeding internally and in pain from every bone in her pelvis being broken.
“I fell into this silence, into a kind of meditative state,” the model recalled in her most recent interview.
“Because I knew that if I panicked, you lost more energy, and I needed all my energy to stay alive.”
A brave save kept Nemcova from slipping away.
Strangers found Nemcova, whose clothes were torn off by the force of the water, and gave her a T-shirt before gently placing her on a floating mattress and sending her through the rubble to medical help.
“Those people were willing to risk their lives for strangers and that shows the best of humanity,” she said during the interview.
After surviving against all odds, it was unclear whether she would ever walk again or emotionally recover from the traumatizing loss of her boyfriend.
The tsunami, which swept across several countries in South Asia, was the result of an earthquake in the Indian Ocean and claimed the lives of nearly 230,000 people.
The model’s then boyfriend, photographer Simon Atlee, tragically died in the disaster
‘I went into this silence, into a kind of meditative state. Because I knew that if I panicked, you would lose more energy, and I needed all my energy to stay alive,” Nemcova recalled the time she spent clinging to the palm tree for eight hours.
Nemcova tearfully recalled her shattered pelvis, which prevented her from swimming toward the sound of screaming children, which led her to found All Hands and Hearts – a nonprofit organization that supports people affected by natural disasters
But the memory of children desperately screaming for help before being met with deafening silence half an hour later plagued her mind and pushed her forward in her personal recovery.
During the 2005 interview with Sawyer, Nemcova tearfully recalled her shattered pelvis, which prevented her from swimming to the sound of children screaming in fear.
That memory fueled a passion that would define the next twenty years of her life.
Nemcova launched All Hands and Hearts – a non-profit organization focused on supporting people devastated by natural disasters, long after aid agencies have gone home and the world’s attention has faded.
She explained that after these organizations leave, “the depression goes deeper, and then there are a lot of suicides.
‘And when there is no more support from organizations, you think: how am I ever going to rebuild my life.’
With her own money, she built the organization into a global army of nearly 70,000 volunteers, including the family of her late boyfriend.
“That day of the tsunami I had no choice to help children, but today and every day I have a choice,” she said. “And we all have a choice. Every day.’
Her organization came to North Carolina earlier this year (pictured) after Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread destruction across the state
She eventually married entrepreneur Benjamin Larretche in 2019
The couple had a baby soon later, whom they named Bodhi
The organization has helped rebuild schools and helped homeowners rebuild their lives after disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes.
All Hands and Hearts came to North Carolina earlier this year after Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction across the state.
“We were there on day two and we committed to staying for a year,” she said, noting that the organization plans to help 500 families in the area.
The nonprofit is also helping people affected by Hurricane Milton in Florida, along with residents of Maui, Hawaii, who suffered from deadly wildfires last year.
In addition, volunteers work on construction projects in Mexico, Nepal and the Philippines.
Despite all the trauma and heartbreak, Nemcova eventually moved on: in 2019, she married entrepreneur Benjamin Larretche and gave birth to their son Bodhi.
“I have a son and a beautiful husband, and there are so many blessings to be thankful for,” she said.
Moreover, she recalled how Altee’s friends and family showered her with love and support after his tragic death.
The model was once on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Before helping children and other victims of natural disasters around the world, Nemcova released a book remembering her life before and after the tsunami
“I was lucky because I met my other twin flame,” she added.
“Ben is my twin flame and he is an incredible soul, and I feel so lucky because I didn’t know it would happen.”
On December 26, the 20th anniversary of the tsunami, Nemcova plans to join volunteers from her organization to light candles in memory of the victims – the flames reflecting a sign of hope for people today.
“We invite everyone to join us in lighting a candle to bring more light into the world,” she said.