Surviving a Tsunami: Rachel’s story | Tsunami: Race Against Time | National Geographic

Summary

In a harrowing moment, the speaker describes a frightening experience of being caught in a dangerous situation near the pier. As people panicked and ran, they were swept into the water, struggling to stay afloat. Despite the dire circumstances and a broken strap, the speaker feared for their life. Just as hope seemed lost, they managed to catch a breath and held onto hope that their partner, Cici, was still safe. The experience reflects both the fear and the unexpected relief of surviving a life-threatening situation.

Takeaways

• 😀 A chaotic scene unfolds with people running madly down the pier.
• 😀 The speaker finds themselves in deep water, with the situation escalating quickly.
• 😀 The speaker calls out to their partner, Cici, for help in the face of danger.
• 😀 Cici tries to assist, but the strap of the speaker's top breaks under the strain.
• 😀 The speaker sees two bungalows coming towards them as the danger intensifies.
• 😀 The speaker begins to panic, thinking they are about to drown.
• 😀 Just as things seem hopeless, something dislodges and the speaker manages to get a breath of air.
• 😀 The speaker hopes that their partner, Cici, is still okay amidst the crisis.
• 😀 The situation is dire, and the speaker feels a strong sense of impending doom.
• 😀 A brief moment of hope arises when the speaker unexpectedly survives the underwater struggle.

Q & A

What was the first thing the speaker noticed when the incident started?

The first thing the speaker noticed was people running madly down the pier.

What happened after the speaker realized they were in danger?

The speaker quickly found themselves up to their neck in water and shouted for help.

What did the speaker ask their partner to do?

The speaker asked their partner, Cici, to help them.

What happened when Cici tried to help the speaker?

When Cici tried to help by grabbing the strap of the speaker's top, the strap broke.

What did the speaker notice as they were struggling in the water?

The speaker noticed two bungalows coming toward them while they were struggling in the water.

What did the speaker think when they were going under the water?

The speaker thought that they were going to drown.

What happened after the speaker went under the water?

Suddenly, something dislodged, and the speaker was able to get a breath of air.

What was the speaker's primary concern after they managed to breathe?

The speaker's primary concern was whether Cici was still okay.

How did the speaker describe the moment they got a breath of air?

The speaker described the moment as a sudden relief when something dislodged, allowing them to get a breath of air.

What does the speaker's reaction suggest about their emotional state?

The speaker's reaction suggests they were terrified and desperate, fearing for their life and wondering about their partner's safety.