A woman who survived the Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand 20 years ago after being saved by an elephant reflected on her gratitude for life.
On 26 December 2004, Amber Owen, from Milton Keynes, was on holiday in Phuket when a magnitude-9.1 earthquake struck beneath the sea in northern Indonesia. The disaster claimed the lives of 230,000 people. However, Amber was carried to safety by an elephant named Ningnong, who she had been riding when the first wave hit.
Amber’s story later inspired children’s author Michael Morpurgo to write the book Running Wild, which was subsequently adapted into a theatrical play.
Now 28 and living in Northampton, Amber recalled the harrowing experience, admitting she “didn’t fully understand what was happening” at the time. She was staying at a hotel in Phuket with her mother, Samantha Miles, and stepfather during the festive season.
On the morning of Boxing Day, Amber and her mother were in their hotel bathroom when “the room started shaking.” She described the initial tremors as mild and said the family didn’t think much of it, continuing with their plans to have breakfast.
Amber frequently visited the hotel’s children’s club, which housed two resident elephants, Ningnong and Yumyum. That morning, she was riding Ningnong along the beach when she noticed the water receding dramatically, exposing the sand and leaving fish stranded.
“I don’t know what caused it, but there was a sound or something, and suddenly all the animals on the beach started running,” she said. “I was still with the elephant handler when the water began rushing in. Ningnong pulled away and ran through the rising water, carrying me to the hotel’s concrete stage.”
Amber noted that the elephants and other animals seemed to sense the impending danger. The hotel, surrounded by lagoons, absorbed much of the water’s impact, sparing it from the severe damage experienced in other areas.
After days of trying to arrange flights, Amber and her family returned to the UK on New Year’s Eve. Her survival story, widely covered by the media at the time, has remained a significant part of her life.
“It was one of the few positive stories amid so much tragedy,” she said.
Amber shared how Morpurgo, renowned for War Horse, found inspiration in her experience to create Running Wild. Meeting him and the play’s cast was an unforgettable moment for her.
“This experience has shaped my life,” she reflected. “It reminds you to be grateful for everything and to live life fully. Things happen for a reason, and this was my reason.”
Amber also emphasized the role of Ningnong’s instincts, highlighting the remarkable intelligence of elephants and advocating for their conservation.