Trapped amidst the carnage, the Cave family waits as a desperate search begins.

⚠️ Some listeners may be distressed by this content.

When all hope of rescue is gone, they are forced to spend the night in their flooded home. They lie awake as it slowly disintegrates around them. Their youngest daughter, Alex, is enduring her own ordeal. Undeterred by false reassurance, she embarks on a relentless search for her missing family. It is thanks to Alex that Suzanna, Neal and Sam are eventually found. Join them as they reflect on rescue, reunion and recovery.

Part One ended with deathly silence and an unlikely visitor. It is only one of several enigmatic signs dotted throughout their story. As the air around them comes to life with the steady chop of helicopter blades, it appears that rescue is imminent. But no one can see them. The water recedes, exposing the wreckage beneath and exposing Neal and Sam to a 15-meter descent with nothing to cushion the fall.

Once back on the ground, they find their beautiful home is unrecognisable. The remaining water, silt and overturned furniture make it almost impossible to navigate. Particularly with their Labrador Ted, who also needs to traverse the wreckage.

Rescue doesn’t come and neither does sleep during a long night of frightening noises. Creaking. Dripping water. Smashing glass. The crashing of ceilings collapsing beneath them.

The day that follows begins with false hope and a perilous trek through the hazardous debris of what was once their home. The 5 of them and Ted spend a long day outside waiting for a helicopter that never returns. Fortunately, thanks to Alex, help does eventually arrive.

Neal, Suzanna and Sam recount their dramatic rescue and the reunion that follows. Their story then becomes one of recovery and new directions. They share some interesting new perspectives, and the conversation touches on survivor's guilt, prophetic dreams, wine and much more. Don't miss the uplifting conclusion to their story as they find triumph amidst the tragedy of Cyclone Gabrielle.

If you enjoyed listening to ALCHEMY PART TWO, please take a moment to rate and review the episode. This ensures more people will discover these stories from Cyclone Gabrielle.

UNDER THE WEATHER has been featured on RNZ and Stuff. Links below to find out more:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360795376/devastation-healing-cyclone-gabrielles-untold-stories

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2019002009/tales-of-horror-and-heroism-in-cyclone-gabrielle-podcast

Chapters

00:00 Recap

00:35 A long way down

06:50 No time to die

08:30 A sleepless night

10:50 Day 2

12:45 A long wait

15:40 The 11th hour.

19:10 Airborne

20:00 Alex

24:50 Ground Zero

27:10 Where do you start?

31:10 The end of a dream

33:50 Alchemy

36:40 The Puketapu Bridge

37:40 New Perspectives

39:10 Global disasters and survivors guilt

41:10 Conclusion

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All transcripts for UNDER THE WEATHER are AI generated.