Canadian Pair's Final Photos Show Tsunami

AP ^ | 2/23/5

[SmithL]

VANCOUVER -- Photographs from the camera of a Canadian couple killed in Asia's tsunami include their final shots of a huge wave as it rushed toward them at their beach resort in Thailand.

John and Jackie Knill of North Vancouver, frequent visitors to the popular Thai resort, Khao Lak, were apparently on the beach when the tsunami hit Dec. 26.

The couple disappeared and relatives say they were notified about a week ago that the identities of their remains had been confirmed.

Searchers later also recovered the couple's destroyed digital camera but were able to print photos from its memory card.

In a sequence of photos over the course of a few minutes, some curious onlookers are shown wandering onto suddenly exposed tidal flats, a sign of the impending tsunami. In one, a large wave appears to be breaking in the distance.

The pictures show that within minutes, the wave grows larger and some beachgoers begin to take notice.

"I don't know why they didn't run," their son Christian Knill told Global TV in Vancouver. "Either they knew they couldn't or they didn't know the power of the wave."

[SmithL]

John and Jackie Knill pose at their Thailand resort in Khao Lak on Dec. 12, 2004.

Second of six photos in a sequence showing the beach at Khao Lak, Thailand, on Dec. 26, 2004. The photos show the water first receding, then forming into the first wave that crashed ashore.

Fifth of six photos in a sequence showing the beach at Khao Lak, Thailand, on Dec. 26, 2004

Sixth of six photos in a sequence showing the beach at Khao Lak, Thailand, on Dec. 26, 2004.

[Huntress]

Wow.

[The Drowning Witch]

Holy Smokes.

[U S Army EOD]

If I had a picture like that on my camera, it would have been taken over the shoulder.

[JennysCool]

I think I see Tourist Guy in photo #5.

[Dallas59]

The wave was deceptive in some places. Who would even think of a killer wave?

[js1138]

No offense to anybody who was killed, but if you start running when the water recedes, you have a good chance, maybe ten minutes to reach higher ground.

[Goodgirlinred]

At least they got to die together. That is more than my husband and I got to do. Little comfort for the family, though.

[1FASTGLOCK45]

JennysCool wrote:
I think I see Tourist Guy in photo #5

--> You got me! I went back to look for Tourist Guy!(c)

[David1]

bump for later

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

So as the wall of water death approaches ....they stand there and take pictures of it on the beach ????

[Spktyr]

By the time you *can* get a picture like #6, it's too late. You're pretty much dead.

[wolfpat]

No offense to anybody who was killed, but if you start running when the water recedes, you have a good chance, maybe ten minutes to reach higher ground.
There was a story of a little girl who had just learned about tsunamis in school, and recognized it when the water receded. She, and a number of other people on the beach did just what you said, and all survived.

[Spktyr]

I know if *I* didn't know what the tides were supposed to be like in an area, I might not figure it out until it's too late either. I suspect most of us would have the same problem.

[Larry Lucido]

"That is more than my husband and I got to do."

I'm sorry to hear about that. How did he die?

[Larry Lucido]

Sorry, I meant that as a private Freepmail. Please feel free not to post your answer on this thread.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I don't know about them, but if I saw something like that coming towards me, I'd have started a-runnin'.

[Libertarian444]

I know if *I* didn't know what the tides were supposed to be like in an area, I might not figure it out until it's too late either. I suspect most of us would have the same problem.

Exactly right. Before this tsunami, I'd venture to say very few people knew what conditions preceded a deadly tsunami. Now they do. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

[Cultural Jihad]

:'(

[DC native]

The photo that shows the water having already receded and the folks strolling unconcerned on the beach is very interesting..they don't even appear to be looking out curiously at the lack of sea. I don't mean to be a Monday morning quarterback or to insult the dead, but it does seem as if the sight of that receding water would make people almost involuntarily run for their lives.