The Gandy Brothers

Life, Interrupted with Simon Thomas

Of all the Life interrupted episodes, I don't think I've ever heard a story quite as shocking and heartbreaking as the one you're about to hear. In 2004, Rob and Paul Forkan, now known as the Gandy Brothers, spent the Christmas holidays in Sri Lanka with their mum, dad, and siblings. For a few days, at least, it was the perfect Christmas. But on Boxing Day, their entire world changed forever. Without any warning, on the morning of the 26th of December 2004, the resort where they were staying was hit by one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. The Boxing Day tsunami was so devastating that it claimed the lives of nearly 35,000 in Sri Lanka alone. I'll let the boys tell you the story of what happened to them. And the days, months and years that followed that dreadful day. This is a story that will at times be hard to listen to, at many points will break your heart. But I know it will also fill you with incredible joy, inspiration. And most importantly, hope. This is an episode that really does capture the power and strength and resilience of the human spirit. If you have been through life events similar to those described in this episode and you need someone to talk to, please contact the samaritans, free any time, from any phone, on 116 123 And if you'd like to share your thoughts with Simon, he'd love to hear from you: Twitter @SimonThomasSky