The Story of Upin and Pitchat
Nigel and Louise Willgrass were on holiday with their young family in Phuket, when the Asian
tsunami struck on Boxing Day, December 2004. They were in the area of Patong when the wave came ashore, and
washed both Nigel and the children away in their hire car. At the same time, Louise was in a nearby store, and was
tragically swept to her death.
Nigel and his four children eventually managed to swim to safety, and in the hours which
followed, they met a young Thai couple called Upin and Pitchat. Despite having lost a close friend themselves,
they ensured the children were looked after while Nigel searched desperately for Louise. Later that same evening, they
comforted the whole family, and gave them food and water, and somewhere safe to sleep overnight.
Upin and Pitchat with LWTF trustees Jon Pemberton and
Keith Watts - June 2005
The following day, Upin and Pitchat took it upon themselves to get the family to safety.
They drove Nigel and the children hundreds of miles to Bangkok in their pick-up truck, a journey lasting more than 12 hours, and
for which they would accept no payment.
Upin and Pitchat had absolutely nothing, yet they gave so much. It is thanks to their kindness,
goodwill, and heart felt generosity, that Nigel and his four children are with us today. The Willgrass family will be
forever in-debited to Upin and Pitchat. If it were not for them, Nigel and his children could not have made it to Bangkok
and returned home to the UK.
The hut where Nigel and his four children were given shelter.
Almost immediately upon his return, Nigel Willgrass decided that he wanted to do
something to help Upin and Pitchat, and the community where they lived. He also wanted to do something positive in memory of Louise, and for which she would have been very proud. In the months which
followed, The Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund (LWTF) was formed. For more information about
the LWTF please click here. For an update on Upin and Pitchat, please read our Latest News section.
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