Rescued by an elephant!
Wednesday 8th April 2009
Forget white sand and blazing sunshine. My daughter, Amber, reckoned the best bit of our holiday in Thailand was a 5-year-old elephant called Ning Nong. It was December 2004, and Amber, 8, my husband, Eddie, 50, and I were on holiday in Phuket. Every morning at 9am, staff at the Sheraton hotel would lead Ning Nong into the breakfast room to entertain the kids, then he was walked 100 yards to the hotel's beach with the children. That morning, I'd just taken a bite of my toast when Ning Nong was led out to the beach. 'Can I go too, Mum?' Amber pleaded. 'OK,' I agreed. 'Just stay where I can see you.' Amber trotted off, but minutes later, I heard an almighty roar. What the… Suddenly, the room was filled with a water. It was gushing in like a huge wave, knocking over chairs.
'What's going on?' I screamed to Eddie. Within seconds, the water was up to our waists. People were screaming. 'Tidal wave!' one man shouted. All I could think of was Amber. How deep was the water at the beach? What if she'd been washed away? Amber could swim, but she'd never be able to fight the force of these waves. 'Amber!' I screamed, trying to wade but to the beach. The current was so strong, big concrete plant pots and cars were being carried along with it. But Amber was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, the water pulled back again. Eddie and I ran towards the beach. 'Amber!' I screamed. Just then, I saw her walking along, dry as a bone. 'I was on Ning Nong's back,' she sobbed, terrified. 'When the water came, he ran up there.' She pointed to some higher ground. I wanted to give Ning Nong a huge kiss. But then… 'There's a bigger wave coming!' someone yelled.Staff ushered us into the hotel reception. Ten minutes later, it hit. Clinging to Amber, I said a silent prayer for Ning Nong.
The second wave devastated what was left of the low-lying areas. That night, we stayed at another hotel further inland. But back at our hotel the next morning, staff told us Ning Nong was safe and well. The following day, we flew home , still exhausted from our ordeal. And when we turned on the telly, we watched in amazement. The tsunami had killed hundreds of thousands of people in 11 countries. Thankfully, we were among the lucky ones. And all because of Ning Nong. As far as I'm concerned, Amber was right. That elephant was the best bit of Thailand. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be here now.
Watch this and other animal hero stories in Hero Animals on Five until 8 April at 7.30pm