Supermodel Petra Nemcova, who survived the 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 broken pelvis, has 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 holiday in Thailand with her boyfriend when the terrifying tsunami tore through their bungalow.

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

The tsunami that 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 couple out of their bungalow.

Nemcova frantically tried to cling to the crushed debris that rushed around her, but the force of the water crushed her pelvic bones and left her unable to use her legs.

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

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

“I went into this silence, into a meditative state,” the model recalled in her latest interview.

‘Because I knew if I started to panic you lose more energy and I needed all my energy to stay alive.’

A brave save 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 attention.

“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 if she would 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 being 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 broken pelvis preventing her from swimming to 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 that aims to support people devastated by natural disasters long after aid agencies have gone home and the world’s attention has waned.

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

‘And if there is no more support from organisations, you think 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 – among them the family of her late boyfriend.

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

The organization has helped rebuild schools and helped homeowners rebuild their lives after disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes.

All hands and hearts turned out for North Carolina earlier this year after Hurricane Helene left widespread devastation across the state.

“We were there on day two and we committed to stay for a year,” she said, noting that the organization plans to help 500 families in the area.

The nonprofit also helps those affected by Hurricane Milton in Florida, along with residents of Maui, Hawaii, who suffered from deadly wildfires last year.

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

Through all the trauma and heartache, Nemcova eventually moved on – marrying entrepreneur Benjamin Larreche in 2019 and giving birth to their son, Bodhi.

“I have a son and I have a beautiful husband and there are so many blessings to be thankful 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’s an incredible soul and I just feel so lucky because I didn’t know this would happen.’

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

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