Priest who saved Nicobar people from tsunami

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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Port Blair, Car Nicobar - Recent 1. Wide shot of Nicobarese refugees in a camp 2. Nicobarese family at camp 3. Wide shot of Reverend Sylvanus Wilfred (with bandaged arm in sling) surrounded by refugees seated on ground 4. Close shot, bandaged arm 5. SOUNDBITE: (Hindi) Reverend Sylvanus Wilfred, Priest "Following the earthquake, somehow I saved my people. We were together but were separated by the water. When I regained consciousness, I called everybody to the jungle. Somehow, I cut a path through the jungle and led the people to a safe place. I evacuated Marcus, who is blind, first of all." 6. Wilfred sitting with blind boy Marcus 7. Close shot, Marcus 8. Wide shot, refugees sitting 9. Boy sleeping on mat spread over grass 10. SOUNDBITE: (Hindi) Reverend Sylvanus Wilfred, priest "I saved them with great difficulty. I saved myself and my wife too with great difficulty. Since I am a priest , I can make any sacrifice for them. I saved all my people." 11. Various, women at camp 12. Wide shot, Reverend Sylvanus Wilfred and his group Car Nicobar - Recent 14. Tracking shot of tsunami destruction 15. Woman rummaging through the debris STORYLINE: A group of Christians from Kimuse village on the tsunami-ravaged island of Car Nicobar have been telling the story of how their priest helped to save their lives when the tsunami struck, and led a blind man to safety. Sharing survival stories is a favourite way of passing time at refugee camps on the island, as residents begin the long process of rebuilding their shattered lives. A 47 year old priest, Reverend Sylvanus Wilfred, was preparing for 7 am Sunday Mass on December 26 when the island began shaking and the sea began to churn. About 200 of the island's 900 people live near his home and chapel, and they quickly scrambled out of their homes, screaming and crying. Wilfred guided many villagers to the safety of trees inland, briefly losing sight of his wife and two children in the panic. In the process his left arm was broken when it became trapped between two falling trees. Local blind man Marcus followed the sound of the priest's voice, and walked into a tree which he was then able to climb up to safety. As the waters began to recede, the priest used fallen trees and wood from destroyed homes to build small bridges that allowed survivors to walk through the flooded areas to higher ground. He took Marcus first, leading him by the hand. Four days later, they were rescued and taken to a refugee camp in the capital Port Blair. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/f2066a042e274358e6fccffa7d0ec52f Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork