María Belón

María Belón
Born 1966
Madrid, Spain
Nationality Spain Spanish
Occupation Spokesperson/advocate
Years active 2011–present
Known for Surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
Spouse(s) Enrique Alvárez
Children Lucas, Simón and Tomás

María Belón (born 1966)[1] is a Spanish physician and motivational speaker, known for surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami when she was on vacation in Thailand with her husband Enrique (Quique) Álvarez[2] and three sons Lucas, Simón and Tomás Álvarez. She was severely injured in the tsunami and nearly died.[3][4]

She was portrayed in the 2012 film The Impossible by Naomi Watts (with the name changed to Bennett), who received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance.[5] The family's nationality was unspecified in the film.[6][7][8][9]

Belon now travels around the world as an advocate for survivors of the tsunami and gives motivational speeches about how she overcame the turmoil and two years of recovery following her injuries. She studied to be a physician and also previously worked as a professor of management with the ESADE Business School, and as a business consultant for companies like Pepsi. She has stated that some of her family is from the Canary Islands.[10]

She was the Spotlight Guest Speaker at the Share Iuvare Business Convention in 2015. Also in 2015 she was a speaker at the World Business Forum. In 2013 she was a guest lecturer at the Instituto de Cervantes in Gibraltar.[11]

Tsunami

Belón, a doctor, and her husband, Enrique Álvarez, were on Christmas vacation at a resort in Khao Lak, Thailand. On December 26, 2004, Belón was at the poolside while her husband and three sons, Lucas, 10, Tomás, 8, and Simón, 5, were splashing in the pool, before the family was swept apart by the tsunami.

After the wave hit and swept her away from her family, she was able to grab hold of a tree with the aim of waiting for the tsunami to subside. While hanging on, however, she noticed her son Lucas in the distance being dragged by the current, screaming for help. She swam after him trying to save him, but after a second large wave occurred, she was dragged through a lot of rubble and hard sharp objects, thus critically wounding her. After the tsunami calmed down, Belón was then able to swim to land with Lucas, only to notice her body was covered with many injuries. Her right leg having been the most damaged as it had been completely ripped open, she was able to dress her leg wound with palm tree leaves.

Belón and Lucas continued walking and looking for safety, though throughout the walk she was losing too much blood and her son had to help her walk. Lucas found a tree that the two could climb up so that if another wave arrived they would be safe. Maria was in too much pain to climb up the tree alone, so Lucas, who had already climbed up, jumped down and risked straining himself, allowing her to climb on top of him in order for her to get into the tree. After waiting in the tree for some time, the two were saved by locals from a nearby village who were coming to check the wreckage's aftermath. Belón was then taken to a hospital, accompanied by her son, to be treated.

Throughout his mother's healing, Lucas was able to reunite with his father and two brothers, who happened to be in the hospital as well, and brought the family together. Once she was stable enough to be moved, Belón and her family were transferred to a hospital in Singapore, where she received further treatment and then was finally able to go home.

Aftermath

She is credited in the cast of the 2012 film The Impossible for providing her story and working on the set in Thailand for the making of the film in the same locations as the original tsunami.[12] She spent much time with Naomi Watts and helped her prepare for the role.[13] Belón chose Naomi Watts to play her in the film, stating that Watts was her favorite actress after seeing the film 21 Grams. She worked with screenwriter Sergio G. Sánchez to ensure her story was accurately told.[14][15]

Belón has appeared on numerous television shows, including Charlie Rose and The View, discussing her experience of making the film and her family's experience of the tsunami. She has been outspoken in regards that her story of survival is not the only one, and that she is only one of many who suffered and survived. She now works as an advocate for those still recovering from the effects of the tsunami. She has stated about her experience,

The tsunami was an incredible gift. I embrace life. My whole life is extra time. There is no difference between me—a Spanish woman named María who is alive—and thousands of moms who are under the sea. I do not deserve to be alive, but life is not fair. I feel pain and compassion for so many others who didn't come back up or lost the ones they love. My whole story is on my body. And it is wonderful because it means I am alive.[16][17][18][19]

References

  1. ↑ Maria Belon story accessed 3/21/2015
  2. ↑ Maria Belon: The Impossible’s Real-Life Survivor
  3. ↑ Kenberr, Ben (14 December 2012). "Tsunami Survivor Maria Belon Reflects on 'The Impossible'". voices.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Tomlinson, Simon (24 December 2012). "Boxing Day Tsunami': Family-of-five relive their incredible tale of survival in 2004 tsunami as story hits the big screen". Mail Online. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Dawson, Angela (3 January 2013). "Maria Belon survived 'The Impossible'". frontrowfeatures.com. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  6. ↑ Howard, Courtney (13 December 2012). "INTERVIEW: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, J.A. Bayona, Sergio G. Sánchez, Belén Atienza & Maria Belon Talk THE IMPOSSIBLE". Very Aware Movie Blog. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  7. ↑ Randolph, Grace (13 December 2012). "WATCH: Ewan McGregor & Naomi Watts Talking About Preparing For 'The Impossible'". Movieline. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Kenber, Ben (14 December 2012). "Tsunami Survivor Maria Belon Reflects on 'The Impossible'". Yahoo!. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  9. ↑ Hayes, Brogen (31 December 2012). "THE IMPOSSIBLE – Behind The Scenes". Movies.ie. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  10. ↑ Maria Belon bio accessed 3/21/2015
  11. ↑ World Business Forum 2015
  12. ↑ von Tunzelmann, Alex (3 January 2013). "The Impossible submerges the true impact of the tsunami". The Guardian. London: GMG. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  13. ↑ Sheridan, Emily (9 October 2012). "Naomi Watts shares the spotlight with tsunami survivor Maria at Madrid premiere of The Impossible". Mail Online. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  14. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (19 December 2012). "Naomi Watts discusses the real life inspiration for The Impossible". HitFix. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  15. ↑ Maier, Jenni (21 December 2012). "The Impossible True Story: Maria Belon & Enrique Belon". crushable.com. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  16. ↑ Leonard, Elizabeth (21 January 2013). "Maria Belon: The Impossible's Real-Life Survivor". people.com. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Parry, Tom (5 January 2013). "Miracle mum relives 2004 Tsunami ordeal which inspired new movie 'The Impossible'". Daily Record. Glasgow: Trinity Mirror. ISSN 0956-8069. OCLC 500344244. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  18. ↑ Curtis, Rachel (21 December 2012). "BBC News - Tsunami survivor's impossible story hits the big screen". BBC Online. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  19. ↑ Christy, George (2013). "The Impossible, Juan Antonio Bayona, The 2004 Thailand Tsunami, Ewan McGregor And More!". Beverly Hills Courier. Retrieved 2 April 2013.

External links

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