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APIA - Andy and Angie Belcher didn't even have time to unpack their bags before the tsunami hit.
Exhausted after arriving on a late flight to Samoa, the Bay of Plenty couple went straight to bed after checking in at the Sea Breeze Resort.
But not before Mr Belcher, a 65-year-old freelance photographer, moved his camera gear from the floor on to a spare bed.
"I actually thought what if a tsunami washed my gear away. I treasure my camera, but isn't that weird?"
The Belchers - celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and Angie's 53rd birthday - were awoken by what sounded like "a massive truck driving into the fale".
"The earthquake felt like someone had picked up the room and was shaking it," Mrs Belcher said.
"The rattling was a violent and constant shaking that just kept going and going."
The pair stood under the doorway, at first in disbelief at the size of the quake, then in growing fear of a tsunami. "Tsunamis are no joke. We knew one would come," Mr Belcher said.
But what took them by surprise was how quickly it would come.
Expecting a 30-minute delay, Mr Belcher walked to the car park, where he spoke with a trio of New Zealand teachers fleeing the earthquake.
But then, just six minutes after the quake, Mr Belcher watched in horror as the tide was sucked out by the incoming tsunami.
"We were lucky it was daytime, so I could see the water. If it was dark we might not be here."
He saw the water disappearing out beyond the coral reef.
"I just started screaming and woke everyone up. Some people had gone back to bed after the earthquake, so I just screamed 'Get out, get out, tsunami'."
The Belchers ran, with 30 other travellers, up a steep hill overlooking the bay. From the safety of the high ground, they watched as a wall of water flooded on to the beach, destroying everything.
The surge came in not once, not twice, but three times.
All the fales, the resort owner's home and the restaurant just disappeared.
The Belchers managed to salvage some of their gear, including the camera kit. Others lost everything.
Fortunately everyone survived and were taken by truck to the New Zealand High Commission, then to a hotel in Apia.
But no sooner had they relaxed, than a second tsunami alert sounded.
"I just started crying. I couldn't take it anymore." Mr Belcher said.
Sitting in the hotel lobby, the Belchers cry softly as they share their story with the Herald.
They are unsure how long they will stay, but are likely to end their one week trip early, Mr Belcher says.
"We are so fortunate compared to everyone else in this disaster.
"We are just so thankful to be alive. This is not something easily forgotten."
How you can help
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at
Oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20
