Supermodel Petra Nemcova who survived 2004 tsunami by clinging to a tree relives the horror 20 years later

Supermodel Petra Nemcova, who miraculously survived a deadly tsunami in 2004 by clinging to a tree with a crushed pelvis, opened up about the horror she faced two decades ago.

Nemcova sat down for an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America to reflect on her experience in one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history.

The Czech model, who has appeared in campaigns for Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret, was on a dream vacation in Thailand with her boyfriend when the terrifying tsunami tore through their bungalow. 

‘It’s always difficult to go back in that moment when my life changed,’ the now 45-year-old said during the segment, which also included footage from her Sawyer’s original interview in 2005, months after the blissful vacation turned into a nightmare. 

The tsunami, which claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people in Thailand, was the result of an earthquake in the Indian Ocean. 

It ripped through several countries across 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 ripped the pair out of their bungalow.

Nemcova frantically tried to cling onto the crushed debris rushing around her, but the force of the water crushed her pelvic bones and rendered her unable to use her legs.

The last thing she heard from her boyfriend, who died in the disaster, was him screaming her name.

Amid the chaos, Nemcova was able to latch onto a palm tree, where she remained for nearly eight hours – all while completely naked, bleeding internally and in agony from every bone in her pelvis being broken.

‘I went into this stillness, into like, a meditative state,’ the model recalled in her most recent interview.

‘Because I knew if I started panicking, you lose more energy, and I needed all my energy to keep alive.’

A courageous rescue saved Nemcova from slipping away. 

Strangers found Nemcova, whose clothes were ripped off from the sheer force of the water, and gave her a T-shirt before gently placing her on a floating mattress and steering her through the debris toward medical help.

‘Those people were ready to risk their lives for strangers and that shows you the best of humanity,’ she said during the interview.

After surviving against all odds, it was unclear whether or not she’d ever be able to walk again or emotionally recover from the traumatizing loss of her boyfriend.

But the memory of children desperately screaming for help before she was met with deafening silence 30 minutes later plagued her mind and pushed her forward throughout her personal recovery.

During the 2005 interview with Sawyer, Nemcova tearfully recalled her shattered pelvis keeping her from swimming toward the sound of children screaming in terror.

That memory fueled a passion that would define the next 20 years of her life.

Nemcova launched All Hands and Hearts – a non-profit organization aimed at supporting people devastated by natural disasters long after aid organizations go home and the world’s attention fades.

She explained that after these organizations leave, ‘the depression goes deeper, and that’s when many suicides happen.

‘And if there is no more support from organizations, you’re like how am I ever going to rebuild my life.’ 

Using her own money, she built the organization into a global army of nearly 70,000 volunteers – the family of her late boyfriend among them.

‘That day of the tsunami, I didn’t have a choice to help children, but today and everyday I have a choice,’ she said. ‘And we all have a choice. Everyday.’ 

The organization has helped rebuild schools and gotten homeowners back to reclaiming their lives after disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes.

All Hands and Hearts showed up to North Carolina earlier this year after Hurricane Helene left widespread destruction across the state.

‘We were there on day two, and we made a commitment to stay for one year,’ she said, noting that the organization plans to help 500 families in the area.

The non-profit is also aiding those affected by Hurricane Milton in Florida, along with residents of Maui, Hawaii, who suffered from deadly wildfires last year. 

Volunteers are also working on construction projects in Mexico, Nepal and the Philippines.

Through all of the trauma and heartbreak, Nemcova eventually moved on – getting married in 2019 to entrepreneur Benjamin Larretche and giving birth to their son, Bodhi.

‘I have a son and I have a beautiful husband and there’s so many blessings to be grateful for,’ she said.

Additionally, she recalled how Altee’s friends and family showered her with love and support after his tragic death.

‘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 just feel so lucky, because I didn’t know it was going to happen.’ 

On December 26, the 20-year anniversary of the tsunami, Nemcova along with volunteers from her organization plan to light candles in memory of the victims – the flames reflecting a sign of hope for people today.

‘We will invite everybody to join us to light a candle to bring more light to the world,’ she said.