Heavily pregnant Turia Pitt has shared her struggles amid Australia’s catastrophic bushfire – nine years after she suffered horrific burns to 80 per cent of her body.
The country’s crisis has brought back haunting memories for the mother after she was caught in a raging bushfire during an outback ultramarathon in September 2011.
She was just 24 when she was trapped after a blaze ripped through a gorge.
In a heartbreaking newsletter sent via email on Monday, Turia – who’s currently eight months pregnant with her second child – said hearing people talk about protecting their homes from the deadly flames have struck a chord with her.
Turia Pitt (pictured with her fiancé Michael Hoskin and their two-year-old son Hakavai) has shared her struggles amid Australia’s catastrophic bushfire – nine years after she suffered horrific burns to 80 per cent of her body
As she’s just weeks from giving birth, Turia said she’s been having ‘recurring nightmares about running through flames with my son in my arms’
‘When I found out friends were planning on defending their property I felt like shaking them. “You have no idea”. I wanted to scream,’ she said.
You have no idea that the smoke will feel like it’s invading every single one of your pores. And you have no idea that in those last few seconds where it’s almost upon you that you will know that you are about to die
‘You have no idea that a fire sounds like a thousand road trains coming towards you. You have no idea how hot it feels, and that you will watch your skin bubble before your very eyes.
‘You have no idea that the smoke will feel like it’s invading every single one of your pores. And you have no idea that in those last few seconds where it’s almost upon you that you will know that you are about to die.
‘At the same time, I’ve felt like it’s not my place to flip out when people all around me have lost everything. I’m lucky – my family and I are safe and we haven’t lost anything.’
Turia – who lives in Ulladulla with her fiancé Michael Hoskin and their two-year-old son Hakavai – said the country’s unprecedented bushfire crisis has made her reflect on her own traumatic ordeal.
‘It’s been a tough few weeks for me emotionally. I’ve had to focus on not letting my emotions and own experiences get the better of me,’ she said.
‘I’ve tried to not let the panic genie out of the bottle (because once that genie’s out, you’ve got zero chance of squashing it back in). And, I’m exhausted.
‘I feel like I’ve done 10 marathons. And we can’t relax because it’s only the start of summer, and it’s not over yet. So just like in a marathon, I’ve realised I have to pace myself.’
Turia (who’s currently eight months pregnant – said the country’s unprecedented bushfire crisis has made her reflect on her own traumatic ordeal
As she’s just weeks from giving birth, Turia said she’s been having ‘recurring nightmares about running through flames with my son in my arms’.
‘It’s been difficult to sleep, eat or think and all I’ve really wanted to do is tap out, put my head in the sand and pretend that nothing is going on.’
The mother said her family spent Christmas and New Years Eve in their hometown as they watched as the ‘sky went red and black’ over the days.
‘More fires broke out… I watched, my mouth agape, as two angry plumes from the fires north and south of us joined together over Mollymook Beach,’ she said.
‘And then, the power went out. Mobile reception became spotty. Internet was down. Rumours swirled around town like the ashes that rained down on us.
‘Embers in our backyards. Homes had been lost. Whole streets obliterated. A girlfriend’s panicked text about her dad being trapped.’
The country’s crisis has brought back haunting memories for the mother after she was caught in a raging bushfire during an outback ultramarathon in September 2011
Instead of hearing music pumping and people celebrating along their street during the count down to midnight, Turia said their evening was ‘quiet’.
‘Not a peaceful and serene quiet, but an eerie quiet. An apocalyptic quiet. No one on their balconies drinking beers,’ she recalled.
‘No music blaring from our neighbours next door, or from the houses across the street. No revellers preparing to celebrate the New Year.
‘And it was dark. No power. No lights.’
She called on her fans to donate to the businesses in fire affect communities.
‘This is a way to put money directly in the pockets of the people and communities who need it the most, and need it now,’ Turia said.
‘Long after the threat is over and the choppers stop flying overhead. Long after summer ends and the wail of sirens ceases in the streets. Help them rebuild. Make them feel heard. Spend with them.
‘Much love to all of you, donating, spending, and doing everything you can. I’m blown away.’