When Annelise Cochran, an accomplished swimmer dedicated to preserving the oceans, went up in flames on the Lahaina Boardwalk in Hawaii, she didn’t think twice: Jumping into the sea was her only option.
“It was a matter of seconds, I didn’t even realize I was making a decision because at that point I had no choice,” said Cochran. told AFP, six days after surviving the wildfire that hit this small beach town on Maui’s west coast.
Amid the raging wildfires in Hawaii, Annelise Cochran and her neighbor survived the inferno in Lahaina by spending hours next to a cliff face on the outskirts of town. https://t.co/PegTistaRc
– The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 12, 2023
The 30-year-old, who works for the NGO Pacific Whale Foundation, lost neighbors and friends – she lost her apartment and her pet in the tragedy that left at least 99 dead and more than 1,000 missing.
“I feel very lucky to have this relationship with the ocean because I think it helped me feel safe that night. The ocean saved my life,” she said.
Cochran reports that August 8 was just like any other day, but the pain started when they smelled a burning smell and saw the sky change color.
“We thought maybe it was the mountain ash from the fire that morning. The wind was blowing over 80 miles an hour. It was very, very fast. It was scary to watch,” said the young woman, outside the War Memorial Complex in Kahului, where it has been sheltering since the tragedy.
With no warnings or evacuation orders, she and her neighbors responded as the sky darkened with smoke. “We saw the flames and understood they were coming towards us,” he recalls.
At that point, the swimmer ran to get her suitcase, a photo album and records and the bird (who died during the escape) and got into her car.
“Everything was pitch black. I couldn’t see more than an inch in front of the car,” he recalled.
The decision to flee by car was frustrated when he saw people abandoning their vehicles near Front Street.
“People parked their cars on the road and started getting out and running. And as such, not a single car could pass. And I realized at that point that no fire engine could get in,” he said.
Out of fear, she decided to throw herself into the sea with her neighbor Edna to protect themselves from the fire.
Five hours in neck-deep water to escape the flames
“We were completely submerged, we kept our faces as low as possible to the point where we could barely breathe on the surface of the water because it was so hard to breathe that air,” he said.
The women then clung to rocks on the banks of Lahaina’s boardwalk and awaited rescue with about 40 others.
“It took me about eight hours to remove the stone wall and get out of Front Street (…) I’d say I spent at least five [horas] totally submerged up to my neck trying to protect myself”, reports Cochran, who also shows the cuts and burns he suffered when he tried to warm himself next to the flames next to the cold sea.
Extraordinary, terrifying scenes in Maui, Hawaii, as intense wildfires combine with a major hurricane to devastate the city of Lahaina.
Residents sought refuge *in the sea*.pic.twitter.com/K6jkQuDQop
– Owen Williams (@OwsWills) August 9, 2023
The survivors were eventually rescued by firefighters around midnight, who took them to a commercial establishment that withstood the blaze. They were later transferred to an asylum.
“It was terrifying and traumatizing,” said Cochran, who plans to return to his parents’ home in Washington.
He added that the Lahaina community is “very angry” with local authorities. “What happened, in my opinion, is close to negligence (…) I’m only here because I decided to protect myself,” he said.
After living in the now-devastated coastal town of 12,000 for nearly eight years, the young woman regrets what happened. “To think we lost our beautiful Lahaina and our memories there. Knowing I won’t be able to walk down Front Street again. It’s mind-boggling. But I feel blessed for life and happy to be here. It’s the most important thing she concluded in tears. .
Source: DN
