Man Recounts Survival and Loss in 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami

Louis Mullan, a resident of Truro, whose parents perished in the 2004 Boxing Day Indian Ocean tsunami, has shared his account of fighting for survival alongside his younger brother during the catastrophe. Mr. Mullan, then 16, was vacationing in Khao Lak, Thailand, with his brother Theo, 11, and their parents, Leonard Barratt, 50, and Catherine Mullan, 53, when the 30m (98ft) wave struck. Recalling the event, he stated, “Theo and I were holding on to each other, and then the water just became too deep, and we were at our depth and then we got separated, and then we both went our separate ways through the water.” The brothers ultimately reunited and subsequently searched for their parents. They later returned to the UK, where they were adopted by a family residing in Cornwall. Mr. Mullan’s testimony is featured in a documentary scheduled for broadcast starting next week, coinciding with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the disaster. The tsunami itself was caused by an earthquake that occurred off the coast of Indonesia, registering a magnitude of up to 9.3. The catastrophe resulted in the deaths of over 220,000 individuals across 14 nations. Mr. Mullan recounted being propelled into a partially constructed building before a stranger rescued him. He described the ordeal, stating, “It was scary because we didn’t know what it was, scary because we were fighting for our lives.” Following the subsidence of the water, the then-teenager joined a French family he had encountered earlier during their trip. He experienced “huge relief” upon reuniting with his brother, whom he saw walking along a road with a group. The siblings proceeded to a local hospital, where Mr. Mullan put up a sign on the noticeboard indicating that the brothers were safe and were seeking their parents. He recalled, “Every room you’d go and see some horrible things, but I was just looking for mum and dad at that point.” The boys remained in Thailand for several days before their return flight to the UK, without their parents, who were from Cornwall and had been swept away and killed in the disaster. The tsunami survivor is scheduled to be featured in the forthcoming documentary titled *Tsunami: Race Against Time*, which is set to premiere on 25 November on National Geographic and Disney+. For updates, BBC Cornwall can be followed on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.