from
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/stor...52&p=yz9x5y858
Geography lesson saves Tilly, 10, and family
01/01/2005 - 11:12:50
An alert 10-year-old British girl saved her family and 100 other tourists from the devastating Asian tsunami – because she had learnt about the giant waves in a geography lesson, it emerged today.
Tilly Smith was holidaying with her mother Penny, father Colin and seven-year-old sister Holly on Maikhao beach in Phuket, Thailand, when the tide suddenly rushed out.
As the other tourists watched in amazement, the water began to bubble and the boats on the horizon started to violently bob up and down.
Tilly, who had studied tsunamis in a geography class just two weeks earlier, quickly realised they were in terrible danger.
She told her mother they had to get off the beach immediately and warned there could be a tsunami, according to The Sun newspaper.
She explained she had just completed a school project on the huge waves and said they were seeing the warning signs that a tsunami was minutes away.
Her parents alerted the other holidaymakers and staff at their hotel, which was quickly evacuated.
The wave crashed a few minutes later, but no one on the beach was killed or seriously injured.
Tilly, from Surrey in England, gave the credit to her geography teacher, Andrew Kearney, at Oxshott’s Danes Hill Prep School.
She told The Sun: “Last term Mr Kearney taught us about earthquakes and how they can cause tsunamis.
“I was on the beach and the water started to go funny. There were bubbles and the tide went out all of a sudden.
“I recognised what was happening and had a feeling there was going to be a tsunami. I told mummy.”
Tilly’s mother said she was “very proud” of her daughter, while her headteacher Robin Parfitt said she had “wisdom beyond her years“.
Mr Kearney said he remembered teaching Tilly and her fellow students that after the sea was sucked backwards, the next five to 10 minutes were crucial for people to survive.
He said her quick-witted actions were typical.
“I’m stunned at the news but so relieved she and her family are safe,” he told The Sun. “Tilly is a very bright level-headed girl. Nothing illustrates her character more than her brave actions in a terrifying situation.”
Tilly’s family have decided to finish their holiday in response to pleas from the Thai tourist board.