She says that this is a 'commitment' that the family has made forever, 'to be close to the souls that passed away in the unfortunate event.'. I could feel something incredible, and I said, 'We need to be courageous, we need Para Mara Beln (Madrid, 1966), todo este despliegue de datos, coordenadas y nmeros, ms cercanos a la informacin de mximos que al factor humano, tom la forma de una ola de ms de ocho metros de altura que se llev por delante a su marido, Quique; a sus hijos, Lucas, Toms y Simn (de 10, 7 y 5 aos, respectivamente), y que acab por devorarla a ella misma. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Tomas said: "It was very hard. Sabes? Search instead in. Lo dems son, simplemente, frases hechas. "Lucas was 10 years old, but he was very brave," she added. Su marido y su otro hijo, Simn, siguen viviendo con ella. I started to cry and then I thought, Why are you crying when there is no one to comfort you?. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Semipresencial en Madrid, Espaa, Maestra en 'Data Management' e Innovacin Tecnolgica 100% en lnea. I embrace life. Ya te habrn contado que el tiempo fue terrible en Tailandia (el peor en 40 aos) y que tuvimos muchos problemas por culpa de eso. The impact of the wave broke her nose, tore her leg, and caused bleeding in her kidneys, bladder and intestines. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Depende de con quin. Beln has appeared on numerous television shows, including Charlie Rose and The View, discussing her experience of making the film and her family's experience of the tsunami. [3] Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Lucas, terrified the wave was going to return, and convinced his brothers were dead, didnt want to stop but Maria insisted. Now. She studied to be a physician and also previously worked as a professor of management with the ESADE Business School, and as a business consultant for companies like Pepsi. De todas formas, debo decir que hubo de todo: asombro, miedo, alegra. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Her right leg was the most damaged, having been completely ripped open, but she was able to dress her leg wound with palm tree leaves. Did the Victorians invent the flushing toilet? What can I use instead of amaretti biscuits? As que tuvimos que aprender de nuevo a caminar por la cuerda floja. Sabes? No he ledo nada del tsunami, nada. The film is called The Impossible and is based on the account of Maria Belton, a survivor of the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004. P.O Box. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. While hanging on, however, she noticed her son Lucas in the distance being dragged by the current, screaming for help. En aquel momento de caos le dije a Jota que quera hablar con Mara, que aquel da estaba all. She has been outspoken regarding the fact that her story of survival is not the only one, and that she is only one of many who suffered and survived. am alone.' Also Read:Khloe Kardashian Jokes How Much Tristan "likes Other Women" As She Introduces 'Quarantina', Maria has continued to work as a doctor while also working as an advocate for survivors who are still recovering from the disaster. Beln was separated from her husband and sons who were in the swimming pool. Beln said that she herself cannot understand why she and her family are alive, while 230,000 other people died that December day. Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, Everything Everywhere wins big ahead of Oscars, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, PM to end asylum claims from small boat arrivals. But six months after Karl became an orphan. Lo que ms me preocup era recuperar ese sano equilibrio entre el miedo y la valenta. En esas dos horas, los ojos de Mara Beln se llenarn de lgrimas; a veces, los cerrar y bajar la cabeza; en ocasiones, har largas pausas, como si buscara las palabras correctas para algo que no puede abarcarse con simple lenguaje. Tomas, his father and Simon were in the pool playing with a ball when the tsunami hit. The audience journeys through a black void of endless water, not knowing which way is up or down, and suffers injury upon injury as they rush through a landscape of debris, clinging to wreckage and trees and fearing the next wave. One day he would like to go into politics and international relations but for the time being he is content in Wales. Sus hijos Lucas y Toms se fueron de casa a los 15 aos, y a su madre, por extrao que pudiera parecer, le parece fantstico: Siempre pens que los hijos no eran mos, que eran prestados y que un da tendra que devolvrselos a la vida. I was devastated. The story was told in. And within moments the hotel was swept underwater. He says: I thought they had taken her away because she had died. While Belxf3n held on for her son, her injuries were slowly killing her. She says: Para m esos rostros dejan de ser noticia para convertirse en personas. Beln defines herself as a normal person who had the luck to live an exceptional experience, in reference to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that struck the beach where she, her husband and three sons Lucas (10), Toms (8) and Simn (5) were vacationing in Thailand in 2004. El tiempo embalsama y desde la distancia todo es ms llevadero, todo est ms anestesiado. I do not deserve to be alive, but life is not fair. Should I see a urologist or nephrologist? How do you raise affinity with MacCready? Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts and Tom Holland playing the Beln-lvarez family. What special things can the iPhone 13 do? Ya s que no soy una chica divertida, normalmente no me llaman para comedias, pero creo que cuando me ofrecen pelculas como esta, no me importa que me pongan esa clase de etiquetas. View our online Press Pack. 195 Maria Belon Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images EDITORIAL All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 195 maria belon stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. You feel it., Lucas says: I realised if we didnt get out of there, things could go very wrong. He then spotted a huge tree which he thought they could climb to safety, but as they waded towards it, they heard a child crying. "We left feeling pain, shock. She swam after him, but a second large wave occurred and she was dragged through a lot of rubble and hard sharp objects, and was critically wounded. I was looking around thinking maybe this is just in my mind. Quieres estudiar Educacin? The family spent six months sleeping with the lights on and her son, Simn, had nightmares about monsters without eyes. lord of the rings meme boromir. The Impossible. Is Robert E. Lee buried in Arlington Cemetery? Watts was also nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance. No me gustan nada frases del tipo el tiempo lo cura todo. Simon, who is the youngest, is still in school,and both the younger children are trained as lifeguards. How do you get Maple Syrup out of a tree Stardew Valley? Watch the trailer for The Impossible below. Mara Beln. 99+ Photos Adventure Drama History The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Read about our approach to external linking. Mama! What is a proscenium arch stage used for? What caused the tsunami in The Impossible? Yo soy muy preguntona y si alguien ha tenido un accidente le pregunto con mucha paciencia. Thomas studied Science, Technology, and International Affairs at Georgetown University and looks after early tsunami warning systems. While Beln held on for her son, her injuries were slowly killing her. Mama! Their arrival had been delayed because of bureaucratic wrangling in Thailand. "The ball was yellow and. Among the 5,400 who died were 2,000 foreign tourists. These are people who have faced and fought real adversity.// Maria Belon is a Spanish physician and motivational speaker known for surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami when she was on vacation in Thailand with her husbane Enqrique and their three sons. Do you know this baby? They were taken to a local hospital and were eventually reunited with her husband and their other two sons. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Mara Beln, a physician, and her husband Enrique lvarez were in Khao Lak, Thailand with their three sons, Lucas, Simn and Toms when the tsunami struck. Like Lucas and Maria, Quique doesnt know how long he was underwater. Me pasaron algo de una periodista, creo que de Tele 5, y me pareci pattica, solo era un relato tipo qu importante fui yo, que estuve all. But although Lucas is mostly unhurt, Maria is badly injured. Video via Warner Bros Pictures. +1.5 hours: Beaches in southern Thailand are hit by the tsunami. La actriz Naomi Watts se mete en su piel para protagonizar 'Lo imposible', una produccin espaola de coraje, suerte y fragilidades que ha. Aprende a ponerle voz a actores y actrices de cine y televisin! For my mother it was Daniel. What is the carry on baggage allowance for British Airways? Sin embargo, en cuanto abre la boca, las primeras impresiones son sustituidas por otras bastante ms veraces: es una mujer rotunda, lista, fuerte porque s que soy frgil y con pocas manas a la hora de sealar aquello que le saca de quicio. Pero, sobre todo, responder todas las preguntas, sin importarle volver a recordar, una vez ms y con mil detalles, el momento en el que la ola se le ech encima y la arrastr durante centenares de metros, mientras sus hijos y su marido desaparecan de su vista, empujados por un mar que se adentr ms de un kilmetro en tierra firme. Read to know more about the real family the story is based on. La madrilea estudi medicina y trabaj despus en el mundo del coaching (eran todo mentiras, as que lo dej), y, sobre todo, es fan de la charla a corazn abierto. Mara Beln y su familia sobrevivieron al tsunami de 2004. Why was there no warning of the 2004 tsunami? Despus estuvo cuatro meses ingresada en un hospital de Singapur y finalmente pudo volver a casa, a Madrid, donde sigui su recuperacin. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. After waiting on the tree for some time, the two were saved by locals from a nearby village who were coming to check the wreckage. 21 das de prueba gratuita de nuestro curso de francs online, Mejore su ingls con EL PAS con 15 minutos al da, Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas, Mejore su italiano con EL PAS con 15 minutos al da, Las mejores oportunidades hablan alemn. I jumped into the swimming pool I dont know why. El muro de agua se llev por delante pueblos, aldeas y ciudades, hasta dejar un recuento de vctimas superior a 220.000 y millones de personas sin hogar y desplazadas, en el que se convirti en el noveno peor desastre natural de la historia. After life-saving surgery, Beln spent more than a year in hospitals in Singapore and Spain. What happened to Thomas and Simon in The Impossible? Collect, curate and comment on your files. Also Read:Is 'The Impossible' A True Story? Doctors later told her she'd been underwater for at least three minutes. Es como tener un hijo, no vuelves a tener las mismas cosas. She says: I thought life was not worth living if I was alone. And then she surfaced, in the middle of the torrent. The 200-foot wave wiped away entire towns and killed over 200,000 people across 14 countries. The teenager could have chosen to study anywhere in the world, but says he chose to come to south Wales. The five were swept away by the wave, and, against all odds, all five survived. Shock had made her oblivious to her injuries. I was alone. We needed to go back to that land, that place, and say sorry for the moment we spent together.". When she resurfaced, Mrs Alvarez-Belon and Lucas took refuge up a tree until being taken to hospital by a stranger. Since the tsunami, many survivors have returned every Christmas for remembrance ceremonies but, feeling awkward about their relative good luck < 'The Impossible' real family; Know all about the Belon family, Is 'The Impossible' A True Story? He then spotted a huge tree which he thought. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami is considered the deadliest tsunami in history. It killed more than 230,000 people, including Wong. She had infections from everything she had swallowed, and from her wounds.. Beln, a doctor, and her husband, Enrique lvarez and her three son, Lucas, Tomas and Simon were on Christmas vacation at a resort in Khao Lak, Thailand. In an interview with People in 2013, Belon said that the family gathers at the beach on December 26, every year. Cuando la veo llegar, me agarro al libro que tengo en las manos porque pienso que tengo que acabarlo como sea es un contraste absurdo, porque por un lado pensaba esto y por otro, cuando vena el muro, tuve la conciencia absoluta de esto se acab. Spain's King inaugurates IESE's new Madrid campus, a space for leaders in sustainability, Academic year kicks off with record number of MBAs, new COVID-19 measures, Finding fulfillment throughout your life and career, Copyright, 2023. My whole life is extra time. Maria says: "About 15 metres away, I could. Now 17, he is studying at Atlantic College in Llantwit Major. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. They were also cremated. Everyone else was dead. Here's a look back at their remarkable story, and where the family is now. "There is no difference between mea Spanish woman named Maria who is aliveand thousands of mums who are under the sea. En ese momento te das cuentas de que no eres nada, de que no eres nadie. A. Bayona, Jota para los amigos, y probablemente uno de los filmes ms esperados del ao despus de que su ltimo trabajo, El orfanato, rompiera rcords de taquilla. Quique swam over and recalls: We both felt we were the only two who had made it.. Image: Getty. Quieres hacer un MBA? I embrace life. She says: When I saw him I thought how stupid I had been. Who is the actress in Tesco Christmas ad? I do not deserve to be alive, but life is not fair. But, The bodies of his parents, Asa and Tomas, were returned to Sweden in April. La actriz, que pas seis meses rodando el filme, se emociona cuando recuerda la experiencia: Es muy fcil quedar atrapado en los mecanismos del cine, los sets, los extras, las cicatrices, son cosas que nos recuerdan que estamos haciendo algo importante, pero que te encierran en el propio cine. The wave smashed her against a plate glass window which exploded behind her and she was swept through the hotel. I saw many lights under the water, tunnels with lights at the end, that people tell you they see when they are going to die.. "I chose Wales for several reasons," he said. El Pas Colecciones te acerca un ao ms los mejores ttulos del cine en espaol. Bayona decided to shoot the film in Khao Lak, Thailand, at the Orchid Resort Hotel where the family stayed and the hospital where the family reunited. On December 26, 2004, Beln was at the poolside while her husband and three sons, Lucas, 10, Toms, 8, and Simn, 5, were splashing in the pool, before the family was swept apart by the tsunami. My whole story is on my body. It was then that Lucas noticed Marias leg had been torn open and she had deep gashes to her chest. I cant say why, but I can say what for, she said. Surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. 2012. La suerte es extremadamente injusta y desde el tsunami lo creo an ms La suerte y la fortuna son una putada, una verdadera putada; a m me ha tocado el otro lado, afirma la espaola, afinando un concepto que saldr varias veces en la conversacin: la presencia de la suerte. Search instead in. But as she clung to a palm tree, she spotted her oldest son floating nearby. Some of the walls did not collapse thats why people died. Maria had deep gashes to her chest and a terrible wound on her thigh - but amid the agony and confusion, she saw something that gladdened her heart. Image: Getty. How much is it to park at Redbridge station? I saw a light above me, so I tried to push myself up and get my head out of the water.. On December 26, 2004, Mara Beln was lying by the pool, reading a Spanish novel at the Orchid Resort Hotel in Khao Lak, Thailand. katy degroot maiden name; best weapon against darklurker; chicken foot dominoes rules pdf. Encuentra los mejores cursos y formacin profesional 'online' y a distancia aqu! Beln and her eldest son were rescued by a Thai man and taken to hospital. De la personalidad y el coraje de Mara, que sac del agua a uno de sus hijos a pesar de estar malherida (en el ao que sigui al tsunami tuvo que ser intervenida quirrgicamente hasta en 18 ocasiones y estuvo a punto de perder una pierna) y consigui aguantar lo suficiente para cuidar de l hasta ser rescatada, habla y mucho Naomi Watts, que recibe a El Pas Semanal en el hotel Excelsior del Lido de Venecia. Charlotte Begg Weekend Editor June 11, 2021 Leave a comment how to move apps from launchpad to desktop. Resuelve los ltimos Crucigramas de Mambrino, Juega a nuestros Sudoku para Expertos y mejora da a da tu nivel, Juega a las nuevas Sopas de letras clsicas y temticas de EL PAS. sixteen surgeries Did Maria Belon keep her leg? Dec. 21, 2012 12 AM PT Maria Beln wasn't proud of her dumb luck. Y rodamos, porque eso es lo que haba que hacer, porque ese era el momento. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Beln now travels around the world as an advocate for survivors of the tsunami and gives motivational speeches about how she overcame the turmoil and two years of recovery following her injuries. Recalling the moment the tsunami struck, Maria, a doctor, says: The wave is big on the cinema screen but in real life it was so much more. "It was really real.". Showing Editorial results for maria belon. Le el guion y hubo lgrimas; conoc a la familia, vi la pelcula y hubo lgrimas, Te cuesta cerrar los ojos o apagar la luz porque vuelves a estar debajo de la ola (Mara Beln), Esta historia es enfrentarte a esos momentos en los que est todo en juego" (Naomi Watts), No eres nada, no eres nadie. Disfruta con nuestros Crucigramas para expertos! Beln chose Naomi Watts to play her in the film, stating that Watts was her favorite actress after seeing the film 21 Grams. Showing Editorial results for maria belon. It seemed like the perfect Christmas break for the Spanish family of five. Admite de entrada que no le gustan demasiado los periodistas, hay muy pocos realmente buenos, y recalca su obsesin por proteger a sus hijos de la avalancha de promocin que se avecina: Beln es la protagonista (o la inspiracin, mejor dicho) de Lo imposible, la pelcula de J. As a family it's something we have come to accept it and there's nothing we can do about it. Beln was separated from her husband and sons who were in the swimming pool. And it reminds us that the strength of human beings is much greater than the limits we set for ourselves. Beln pas un tiempo en un hospital tailands, donde su marido la encontr despus de haberla buscado con insistencia durante varios das. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. La suerte es aleatoria, yo tuve la suerte de probar la buena de la misma forma que me podra haber pasado al revs. Qu hubiera hecho si hubieran muerto? She was petrified, alone and convinced she was dying but in a miracle that has inspired new film The Impossible, the mum and her family survived. She studied to be a physician and also previously worked as a professor of management with the ESADE Business School, and as a business consultant for companies like Pepsi. The death-defying experience taught her that we must seek happiness in everything we do, no matter how small. Pero quin soy yo para que el mar me haya devuelto a todos mis hijos? I didnt think it was the sea. She was portrayed in the 2012 film The Impossible by Naomi Watts (with the name changed to Bennett), who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.External links. At 53, Beln still remembers the nightmares that she suffered almost every night following the birth of her first child, Lucas: I dreamt that a giant wave reached the coast and swallowed my children, she said. She kept going in and out of consciousness.. Ahora solo queda una sensacin duradera, que da miedo, pero que es de verdad: un cambio en la conciencia de la fragilidad de la vida. Once she was stable enough to be moved, Beln and her family were transferred to a hospital in Singapore, where she received further treatment and was finally able to go home. Encabezan el cartel The Strokes, Florence + The Machine y Arcade Fire. Mara Beln is known for The Impossible (2012), The Big Wave (2017) and Samanta y (2017). "It's the place I am happiest at the moment. The back of her leg is torn open, and she has a severe chest wound. Where is the castle that Merlin was filmed? Podis ornos? The Impossible Real Life Tsunami Survivor Maria Belon Interview Know More About Netflix's Holiday Film. While hanging, she noticed her son Lucas (10) being dragged by the current. Though he was only five and had only just learned to swim, he had also managed to escape up a tree. How many surgeries did Maria Belon have? I feel pain and compassion for so many others who didn't come back up or lost the ones they love. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Me cambiara por cualquiera de esas personas que tuvieron que quedarse en el fondo del mar, me encantara darles algo de la suerte que tuve yo y que les esquiv a ellos. 2023 Getty Images. Meanwhile, as the raging water swept Maria along, she was convinced her whole family had been killed. Belon, who is a doctor, was reading a book at the poolside as she saw her kids and their father have a fun time in the water. Una alarma sin tiempo. I was all alone. She grabbed a tree, then miraculously she saw Lucas being swept past in the water. Throughout his mother's recovery, Lucas was able to reunite with his father and two brothers, who happened to be in the hospital as well. Por eso me cuesta hablar de la suerte: me parece un tema desgarrador. Beln est sentada en la terraza de su casa de Madrid, tiene los pies desnudos encima de la silla y es ms bien pequea. Maria, who is a doctor, works as an advocate for tsunami survivors and gives talks around the world as a motivational speaker. El momento en que la ola me pilla, estoy en esa ducha, que no es de cristal, sino de pizarra. david brooks wedding video news Uncategorized maria belon injuries pictures Read about our approach to external linking. Esa es una de las cosas que me aport el tsunami: me llen de agua y me vaci de todo lo dems. Quieres especializarte en Recursos Humanos? The Impossible Tsunami Survivor Maria Belon Interview - Real life Experience It was then that Lucas noticed Maria's leg had been torn open and she had deep gashes to her chest. Her right leg was the most damaged, having been completely ripped open, but she was able to dress her leg wound with palm tree leaves. Un milagro, apuntaba Beln, no tengo dudas de que eso es lo que fue. Te ayudamos a encontrar los mejores cursos y formacin profesional! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Desde la experiencia personal me cuesta mucho, mucho, leer sobre ello. She now works as an advocate for those still recovering from the effects of the tsunami. La Liga Music Experience. Fifteen years after that traumatic experience, which left physical and psychological traces for years, Beln says that experiences that are difficult and even painful are common to all people. This is the reason she became involved in the film, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and starring Naomi Watts, both in the screenplay and in the filming. Actress Naomi Watts, left, portrays Maria Belon in a movie called The Impossible where Belon survived a Tsunami and finds her way back to her family. She was portrayed in the 2012 film The Impossible by Naomi Watts (with the name changed to Bennett), who received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance. Mara Beln and Naomi Watts. For Beln, a tsunami can be any giant wave that hits us in life, provoking bruises, injury, confusion and asphyxiation. A doctor and lawyer by profession, Beln says these tsunamis may be caused by failure, an accident, illness or loss; they affect our entire being, inundate body and soul. The positive side of all this, according to Beln, is that this type of experience offers the possibility to profoundly understand what truly matters in life.. ", "It's been a long time. Bayona decided to shoot the film in Khao Lak, Thailand, at the Orchid Resort Hotel where the family stayed and the hospital where the family reunited. The Impossible, released in 2012, is a movie based on the real-life events that took place during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, but the family whose story is depicted is also a real family. "I was facing the sea and saw a huge black wall. 2023 BBC. I would love to know how Daniel has grown up., 240,000 killed by tsunami including 149 Brits, I'm fat & have a bum at the front, I have to wear bikini bottoms back to front, I saved myself from Royal life, Harry says & insists 'sharing's an act of service', I bought a 1.6k Cavoodle & expected a model dog, but that didn't work out, Fergie befriends mysterious billionaire as she & Prince Andrew face eviction, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Her right leg was severely damaged. to take care of each other, but we will not die,'" she said. Europa Press Entertainment // Getty Images Years later, their story was turned into the 2012 film, The Impossible,starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and a young Tom Holland as the Beln-lvarez family. The three were finally rescued by villagers who took them to hospital in the nearest town, Takua Pa. Search instead in Creative? Beln recounts that when she emerged from the wave, still in shock, she understood that the most difficult thing in life was loneliness and the most important was love. : el grito de los sordociegos, Utiliza nuestro cupn AliExpress y ahrrate hasta un 50%, Aprovecha el cdigo promocional El Corte Ingls y paga hasta un 50% menos, Disfruta del cdigo promocional Amazon y consigue hasta 20% de descuento, Canjea el cdigo descuento Groupon y paga un 20% menos. She was severely injured in the tsunami and nearly died. "My top two choices were UWC Atlantic and Red Cross Nordic [Norway]. Quieres especializarte en Logstica? Cinco sedes disponibles, Licenciatura Ejecutiva en Derecho. Una deuda que nunca voy a poder devolver y en la que prefiero no pensar porque es una carga muy gorda. You are here: Home How What are the Beln family doing now? I dont know exactly what happened next. Tomas is now a first-year student at UWC Atlantic College and studying towards the International Baccalaureate alongside the co-curricular activity which sees him training to save lives. "When my husband found Simn, he [was near] two corpsesone without an eye," she said. The tsunami changed the course of the familys lives. These days, Beln continues to work as a doctor and is a motivational speaker and advocate for tsunami survivors. He surfaced in the torrent, more than half a mile downstream from the hotel, and says: The only thing I could see was water and the tops of the trees. 358, P.C 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman. Today, the family from The Impossible is devoted to doing good. Encuentra aqu los mejores cursos y formacin profesional! Tomas' desire to help others comes after his family's experience on Boxing Day 2004. Maria says: "The man wouldn't allow me to die.