The day after Christmas 2004, a tsunami originating in Indonesia swept through the Indian Ocean. More than 230,000 people were killed in one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.
The Oprah Show's
Nate Berkus was on vacation with his partner, Fernando Bengoechea, the day the tsunami hit. Nate survived, but, tragically, Fernando died.
Just weeks later, Nate told his harrowing story. "I climbed back up on the post and I thought to myself, 'I am going to die if I don't get on top [of the roof],' and somehow I was able by just squeezing the side of the rooftop to pull my whole body on top of it," Nate said. "On the rooftop, I just started calling out for Fernando and looking all around and just was expecting for him to say, 'I'm here' or 'I'm hurt' or 'I'm in this tree.'"
