This Boxing Day marks the 20th anniversary of the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history.

On December 26, 2004, the region was struck by a devastating earthquake, measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale, triggering a massive tsunami that claimed the lives of about 230,000 people across 14 countries.

The disaster left entire communities devastated and unprepared, as there were no warning systems in place to alert the public of the impending danger.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, some of the hardest-hit areas in Thailand were the coastal areas of Khao Lak and Phuket, which saw widespread destruction and loss of life.

The tsunami wave hitting in Thailand. Photo/ Bob Hooker.

Among many who responded was Greg Brownless, a former mayor of Tauranga and a funeral director, who firstly travelled to Thailand as a volunteer to assist with recovery efforts.

Had to help

Reflecting on his experiences two decades later, Brownless recalls how his connection to the region, having recently visited the area just months before the tragedy, propelled him to act.

“I couldn’t believe it. I had been in that part of Thailand in October that year,” Brownless said.

“I’d met people and was familiar with some of the beaches, and thought, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’”

Total destruction as viewed from the top floor of the Phi Phi Hotel, in Thailand. Photo/ Brett Phibbs.

A member of Tauranga Sunrise Rotary, he immediately reached out to the Rotary Club of Phuket, receiving a response just a day later. Initially, the death toll indicated a few hundred victims. But as the scale of the disaster unfolded, the numbers rose to several hundred thousand. Brownless knew he had to help.

Calm

Five days after the tsunami struck, Brownless arrived in Thailand.

He made his way to Takua Pa, a town inland from Khao Lak, where the bodies of the deceased were being collected.

There, he began volunteering as part of the identification and recovery efforts.

His funeral experience proved invaluable as he helped transport bodies, many of which were unrecognisable due to the extensive trauma caused by the waves and debris.

“I couldn’t believe how calm it was when I first arrived,” Brownless said, describing the scene in Khao Lak.

“It was a perfect still, summer’s day. But in the built-up areas, there was complete destruction.”

Damage caused by the wave in Thailand. Photo/ Bob Hooker.

Brownless observed that while some larger buildings remained intact, it was the village-style structures near the beach that were destroyed.

The water had surged up to 300 metres inland, and the area was filled with debris, making survival nearly impossible for those closest to the shore.

‘Missing’ posters 

While he was volunteering on the frontline for two weeks he observed teams of dentists, police officers and other volunteers all working together.

He said one of his biggest memories was seeing the missing posters around the towns.

“A4 photocopies with photos of missing persons, many of them children.”

The Wall of Remembrance, for victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami, Mai Khao, Phuket, in south Thailand. Photo/ Brett Phibbs

As the recovery process continued, Brownless was called back to Thailand by Kenyon International Emergency Services in April 2005 for a month-long assignment, this time in a more formal capacity.

He worked with a team of 10-12 people adjacent to the Disaster Victim Identification Centre, where the bodies of victims had been moved until identities were confirmed. Dental records, which were compared to those available in their home countries, had proved the most useful.

Orphanage

Prior to being repatriated to their home countries, debris accompanying each person had to be examined thoroughly for personal items which could then be returned with the deceased.

“We regarded a towel as a valuable because it was something a family could recognise, and that recognition was an important part of the grieving process. I found it very heart-wrenching seeing, for example, stuffed toys."

A team transports bodies to and from storage containers in Thailand. Photo/ Bob Hooker.

“We were very much conscious of working within the customs and practices of the local people, while also dealing with the formalities of international repatriation,” he said.

He donated the fee he received for this task to some families he met, as well as to Home and Life, an orphanage off Phuket Island that was set up to care for children whose parents had died in the tsunami. He also helped direct funds raised by a Tauranga Rotarian to the same orphanage.

Treasure each day 

His efforts were recognised when he was awarded the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Asian Tsunami) for his work.

Workers construct new buildings (the old buildings were destroyed by the tsunami) at the Mukdara Beach Resort at Khao Lok, Phang Nga District in Thailand's south, after the region was hit hard by the Boxing Day Tsunami 2004. Photo/ Brett Phibbs.

“One thing I’ve learned is to treasure each day,” he said.

“That morning on the beach, people had no idea that their lives were going to end.

“The other thing I’ve learned is if you want to do something badly enough, do it because the things you regret are things you don’t do, more than the things you do. I had it in mind I wanted to go, and I went.”

On Boxing Day this year, he will remember the tragedy in his own way, honouring the lives lost and the lessons learned from one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.

Greg Brownless with the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Asian Tsunami) medal awarded him by the NZ Government for his work in Phuket dealing with the tragic aftermath of 2004's Boxing Day tsunami. Photo: John Borren.