Supermodel Petra Nemcova survived 2004 tsunami that claimed her partner's life

Supermodel Petra Nemcova, now 47, has spoken about the harrowing experience of surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a catastrophic event that claimed the life of her then-partner, Simon Atlee. The tragedy occurred on December 26, 2004, while Nemcova and Atlee were vacationing in Thailand.

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I heard Simon calling me, but that was the last time I heard his voice.

Nemcova recounted that they were enjoying their holiday, having breakfast and walking on the beach, when the massive tsunami struck. She was in their bungalow packing for their flight when the immense wave hit. "Everything happened in a second. I looked out the window and realized something was wrong, and in the next moment, a huge wave swallowed the bungalow," she told People magazine.

She sustained severe injuries, including fractures to her pelvis. "I heard Simon calling me, but that was the last time I heard his voice," Nemcova recalled, her voice trembling with emotion. Atlee's body was found months later. The tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia, resulted in approximately 230,000 deaths across 12 countries.

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Everything happened in a second. I looked out the window and realized something was wrong, and in the next moment, a huge wave swallowed the bungalow.

Despite her own near-fatal experience and profound grief, Nemcova found the strength to help others. In 2005, she established the humanitarian organization All Hands and Hearts. The foundation focuses on providing aid to victims of natural disasters, and Nemcova stated that the "sound of children's screams and the inability to help left a deep mark on me." Through the foundation, which operates in over 28 countries, she has been able to assist those most in need, finding her purpose and inner peace in this humanitarian work.

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The sound of children's screams and the inability to help left a deep mark on me. Today, thanks to the foundation, I can help those who need help the most.

Nemcova, who is now married to Benjamin Larretchea and has a son, Bohdi, emphasized the importance of meditation, accepting grief, and focusing on the positive aspects of life in her recovery. Doctors had estimated her recovery would take two years, but she returned to work in just four months.

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Doctors estimated that I would need two years to recover, but I returned after only four months.