This is tsunami Survivor K. Pasupathi’s incredible story of how he saved his and another person’s life when the 2004 tsunami hit Puducherry, India.
“The tsunami waves reached the top of that lighthouse.” K. Pasupathi pointed out as he shared his courageous Tsunami survivor story of how he survived the infamous tsunami of December 26, 2004.
The Tsunami
He said it was a typical pretty day when he and several successful friends played tennis together at Karaikal Beach in Pondicherry, India. While playing a game of tennis, he suddenly heard a sound that he described as running water pouring from a faucet coming from the ocean. He stopped, looked out to the sea, and noticed the water quickly rising. His feet were already underwater before he realized what was happening.
Like any other day, he had brought his high-end $1,000 tennis racket with him and a couple of others that had cost him hundreds of dollars. Fearing for his life, he dropped them all and started running as fast as he could from the rising water. He saw a line of trees ahead of him and thought to himself that if he could quickly climb up one of them, he would be safe.
Unfortunately, not fully realizing the danger they were in, Pasupathi’s friends stayed behind, to gather and pack up their expensive tennis rackets.
The Movie “The Day After Tomorrow” Helped Save His Life
He was about to climb up a tree when a scene from the movie, “The Day After Tomorrow” came to mind. It was a scene where the main characters were running from a tidal wave and someone suggested they go into a building that was behind another building for additional protection.
As K. Pasupathi was running, he looked up at the trees ahead and saw one behind a guest house. He ran over to it, and the moment he jumped up to grab a branch, the water came rushing by.
Holding On For Dear Life
After he felt safe from drowning, he took and look around at the flooded landscape. He realized that his friends and the other trees, which also had people in them, all had been tragically washed away. The guest house blocked the brunt of the tidal wave thus protecting the tree from being knocked down. That guest house had protected him just as he thought it would from his memory of the movie, “The Day After Tomorrow.” He then climbed as high as the tree branches would support him; at his highest point, the water was still touching his feet.
As he sat there in the tree, he saw a boy struggling in the water and drifting by him. He reached out and grabbed the boy and pulled him to safety. They both sat in that tree, holding on to it for dear life for some time. After the water had gone down low enough, he climbed down the tree and swam to another tree nearby, and climbed that one while holding the boy. He did this from tree to tree until he was far away from the beach and the water was low enough to where he could stand up and walk.
Getting Help
When he finally made it to town, the water in the street was still up to his chest. A short time later, He was able to get a hold of a friend of his in the government about what happened. His friend was then able to contact the coast guard. The coast guard went to the beach to look for K. Pasupathi’s friends, but, Pasupathi sadly said to me, “they were all found dead.”
Life After The Tsunami
He told me that for a long time the trauma of the tsunami still affected him. Especially the sound of someone turning on running water. That sound, he said, would cause him to go into a panic for a moment.
Today was the first day he had been back to this beach. It had been over 5 years since the tsunami. Fortunately, I was there with him to hear his incredible tsunami survivor story.
More Photos From My Incredible Trip to India:
- The Taj Mahal In Agra, India Was A Breathtaking Sight Of Awe And Beauty
- New Delhi & Agra, India – Seats Of Power And Poverty
- Auroville Matrimandir & Mahabalipuram, India with Krishna’s Butterball
- Puducherry, India Is A Seaside French Settlement With A Unique Culture
- Chidambaram, India – A Small Town With The Famous Nataraja Temple
- Nagapattinam, India – Beautiful Orphans And A Ring of Fire
- Velankanni, India – A Small Indian Beach Town With A Famous Basilica
- An Indian Girl Who Chose To Love Despite Her Tragic Life Story
- Tsunami Survivor K. Pasupathi’s Story About Surviving The 2004 Tsunami
- Kumbakonam, India, A City Known For Its Silk Dyeing And Weaving Skills
- Mayiladuthurai, Tharangambadi, and Poombuhar In Tamil Nadu, India
- Thanjavur, India, An Ancient City Of Temples And Art
- Namakkal, India, A Day Of Rekla Races And A Massive Pongal Festival
- Yercaud, India, A Beautiful Town Located In The Mountains
- Coimbatore, India Is A Small Bustling City With Amazing Food
- Salem, India – A Vibrant City With Pongal Festival Celebrations
- Bangalore, India, A Enormous City Famous For Technology and Religion
- Hosur, India Is A Rural City With Beautiful Mystical Tropical Landscapes
- India, Arriving In An Incredible And Mysterious New Place
This is a really good story with great photos. And by the way, you must have an awesome editor!
Haha! I do! Thanks alot for your help man!
Hi Mathew ,
This is Kumar (this is my short name called in my office but am not willing to publish my full name) from madras(chennai),south India. I am unknown to you but I really appreciate for all your efforts for this kind of blog . I dobnt know Internet much & also dont know what is meant by blog but I just wanted to thank all the people from united states for spending your valuable time in replying to this true incident . You all are great .
Nanri(Thank you )
Vanakkam(Bye Bye)
Wow!! Great photos.. and what a story. I can only imagine that to this day and for the rest of his life that the sound of rushing water will trigger this memory for him. How beautiful that he was able to save a boy’s life…and that he was wise enough to know that those tennis rackets are worth nothing compared to a life. Thanks for sharing. That’s so cool you were able to revisit the scene with him for the very first time.
Hi Mimi ,Also in you tube just search for “Karaikal tsunami ” you will be able to see the river in one of the South Indian city named karaikkal where river reverts back from sea in a gigantic scene. also search for the term “kanyakumari tsunami” which shows a giant 133 feet statue(called as “Thiruvalluvar silai” in Tamil Language )being overshadowed by the splashing waves of tsunami. Near that statue lies a rock memorial (called as “vivekanandar paarai ” in Tamil Language )from where almost 500 to 800 people were rescued . kanyakumari (called in Tamil )is the city (called as cape comerin in English) which is the starting point of India .
Wow! Matthew, awesome story and photos!!! I really enjoyed it!!
Hi Cindy B ,Also in you tube just search for “Karaikal tsunami ” you will be able to see the river in one of the South Indian city named karaikkal where river reverts back from sea in a gigantic scene. also search for the term “kanyakumari tsunami” which shows a giant 133 feet statue(called as “Thiruvalluvar silai” in Tamil Language )being overshadowed by the splashing waves of tsunami. Near that statue lies a rock memorial (called as “vivekanandar paarai ” in Tamil Language )from where almost 500 to 800 people were rescued . kanyakumari (called in Tamil )is the city (called as cape comerin in English) which is the starting point of India .
Wonderful story!! Its amazing in the face of tragedy people’s humanity shines brightly.
Hi Amanda ,Also in youtube just search for “Karaikal tsunami ” you will be able to see the river in one of the South Indian city where river reverts back
I finally got a chance to read about the Tsunami survivor on Friday evening when I got home..and its still on my mind even after the long weekend. It’s like I relived the situation in my mind and it gave me chills! Can you imagine going through something like that? Sometimes I wonder if I would’ve done the same thing he did. I definitely would’ve dropped the tennis rackets and climbed a tree or building, but I don’t know if I would’ve been as aware as he was when he pick a tree that was stationed behind a building. Now, that’s what I call a survivor! Grabbing the little boy was a such a heroic move…because he could’ve very easily just ignored him and concentrated on saving his own life. Thanks man, I’m going to email this to some friends of mine if you don’t mind.
Hi Laurence ,Also in youtube just search for “Karaikal tsunami ” you will be able to see the river in one of the South Indian city named karaikkal where river reverts back form sea in a gigantic scene
Hi
This is Pasupathi from Karaikal. I saw your photos, they are very nice and so many friends have seen these photos and they are very happy.
Thank you very much
by
K.Pasupathi
Karaikal
K.Pasupathi, I am so happy that you are pleased with my blog about your story and that your friends enjoy it as well. Thank you so much for sharing your act of courage and survival with me. It was an honor for me to visit India, meet you, and hear your story. I hope all is well with you and your family, take care.
Peace.
Hi K.Pasupathi ,
en peyar Kumar(this is my short name called in my office but am not willing to publish my full name)ungalai enakku theriyathu. aanal neengal seiydha seyal paaraatukkuriyadhu . nanri.
This is Kumar from madras(chennai). I am unknown to you but I really appreciate for what you had done to save the boy . neengal nalamudan vaala en manamaarndha vaalthukkal .
also at the same time I feel sorry & sad for your friends tragedy.
Vanakkam
I pray for those affected by the tsunami. Thanks for the article. It helped me realize what I’ve got and how lucky I am just to be alive
Me too, even though it has been several years that has passed, people are still suffering from it. Thank you for your comment and I agree, we are certainly very lucky to still be here.
I was moved to tears when I read the story.my uncle Haleem too was with pasupathy playing tennis when this happened. Pasupathy was lucky but my uncle was not. My uncle was a school head master in a government school. May his soul rest in peace. Thanks pasupathy for your courage. Thanks Matthew for this blog.
Hi Matthew T Rader
This is Pasupathi.k from Karaikal. How are you and your family? One weak before I have got my lost tennis racket.
thanks
Pasupathi.k
Hello Pasupathi, I’m doing well and so is my family, thank you! That so interesting about your tennis racket, that you got it back. It was definitely worth leaving it behind so save your life and then to get it back a week later.
U have so courage that u fought against a terrible tsunami
Hi,
I am writing a book about my son and daughter in law who survived the tsunami in Khao Lak, Thailand.
I seek permission to quote the story of K. Pasupathi as reported on your web site. I will of course acknowledge the source of the material.
Mark Witzer
basildon
England
Hello Mark, you absolutely can. Thank you for asking me for permission to quote me. I would love a copy of that book when you are done.