'Lucky to be alive,' says quake victim

BY CLIO FRANCIS IN CHRISTCHURCH

Terrified Bridie Sweetman clung to her mattress and put a pillow over her head as her house shook violently and hundreds of bricks poured into the kitchen.

The 24-year-old student was lying in bed when the Christchurch quake struck, dislodging her neighbour's chimney and sending it flying through her kitchen ceiling.

It was 4.36am and an earthquake measuring 7.1 had just struck Canterbury, its epicentre situated only 40km west of Christchurch.

Just minutes earlier Ms Sweetman had been standing at the kitchen sink at her central city home at Gracefield Ave after grabbing a late-night glass of water.

She had just returned to her bed when the wooden 1914 character villa began to shake.

"I heard the rattling of glass objects and chandeliers so I knew it was earthquake.

"For about 30 seconds it was quite violent and that's when I heard the rumbling, which was the chimney from next door falling through this roof.

"I wanted to get up and see what was going on but I couldn't physically get out of bed. I had to lie there holding onto the mattress and I put the pillow over my head.

"I just lay there, holding on, waiting for the trembling to stop."

The earthquake had been "terrifying", Ms Sweetman said.

When the shaking stopped she walked down the hall, passing shattered ornaments and upturned tables, and looked through the kitchen door.

In mere moments her "immaculate" kitchen had been destroyed.

"I was shocked. It was disbelief, utter amazement."

Ms Sweetman was nervously awaiting the arrival of her mother yesterday, who owns the house and had been out of town for the weekend.

"She quite simply didn't believe me when I told her. I don't think anything could prepare anyone for something like this in their home."

Getting hold of any official help to report the damaged house had been "impossible", Ms Sweetman said.

"I've been trying the Earthquake Commission several times an hour for the past 36 hours and every time its either engaged or it just doesn't go through.

"I still haven't spoken to them and reported the damage which is particularly problematic given the gale force winds expected and the missing roof."

Fortunately Ms Sweetman's neighbours had spent most of the weekend on the roof, pulling tarpaulins over a gaping hole.

"We're expecting hail and snow apparently...the house is totally exposed to the elements, anything that can get through this tarpaulin will damage the walls, the art work, the whole interior."

Ms Sweetman said while the earthquake had been a traumatic experience, she believed it could have been worse.

"Like I said, 20 minutes earlier I was standing in this room. Had it been any other time of the day when people were out and about there could have been chimneys to the head.

"I feel lucky to be alive, blessed really."

- © Fairfax NZ News