Boxing Day Tsunami 2004: Joe lost his “joyful” and “loving” son Paul in the 2004 tsunami. He remembers the disaster vividly as if it were yesterday

Exclusive: Two decades have passed since Joe Giardina lost his “joyful” and “loving” son Paul, but his memory burns brighter than ever.

Joe, his wife Evanna and their 16-year-old son Paul were on vacation in Phuket, Thailand when the Boxing Day tsunami, 2004 The attack killed 227,898 people.

Paul was one of them. He was swept away by the wave, while Joe, trying to save his son, survived a near-drowning by an incredible stroke of luck.

Paul with mother Evanna in Phuket the night before the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004 — Paul Giardina took a photo with his mother Evanna in Phuket the night before the tsunami. (Included)

Joe, who lives in Melbourne with his wife Evanna, told 9news.com.au the last 20 years have been tough, but he knows Paul has managed to squeeze a life full of love into his short time on earth .

“Every parent’s nightmare is to lose a child. Mine was even worse in the sense that I couldn’t hold on to it… I lost it,” Joe said.

“I felt like I was letting him down. But I also knew there was nothing I could have done, it was out of my control.”

The Giardinas were having breakfast at their hotel in Phuket when the tsunami hit.

The force of the water swept Joe into a stairwell on the third floor of the hotel, while Paul was torn away from his father.

While Joe escaped drowning and survived with some broken bones, Paul’s body was found three days later.

This haunted Joe for a long time.

Paul, who lost his life in the Boxing Day tsunami aged 16 — Paul was washed away and his body was found after the tsunami hit Phuket. (Included)

Now, 20 years after the tsunami, he said time has healed many of those wounds.

“We also need to recognize that it’s not just us. In total there are 26 Australians, so 25 more Australians who have lost their lives and 230,000 worldwide,” he said.

Because of this, Joe wanted to pay lasting tribute to those who died in the disaster.

He was instrumental in persuading the Australian government to erect a monument in Canberra in 2015 commemorating Paul, among thousands of others.

Every parent’s nightmare is losing a child. Mine was even worse in the sense that I couldn’t hold on to it… I lost it.

Joe also visited Canberra in November to celebrate the milestone this Boxing Day.

“It was part of the healing process, not just for me but for all Australian families,” Joe said.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years, it feels like 10 or 12 years, it’s still very much alive.”

Joe Giardina hotel room after the tsunami — Joe survived and almost drowned after the tsunami dragged him into a hotel stairwell. (Included)

Joe also visited Thailand again and regained his memories of the beautiful Southeast Asian country after the nightmare he suffered.

He also had a long time to think about the word “survivor” and what it means to have lived while his son did not.

“It’s a word of joy because I survived a near-death experience,” Joe added.

“I have come to terms with the challenges that life brings, it is the reality.”

“I don’t feel anger, it’s the journey. Of course we would have preferred not to make this trip, but it is the reality of life.”

Joe Giardina with wife Evanna and son Paul. (Included)

Joe Giardina and now with Evanna — Joe and Evanna now. (Included)

The years may have flown by, but Paul will forever be 16.

Little things always bring back memories of Paul and Joe loves it when the universe offers him a little reminder of his son.

“He would have been 16, it’s sad we never got to see that side of Paul,” Joe said.

“Paul was just love. In photos of Paul you can always see a smile or a cheeky grin on his face. That was Paul, the Paul we knew, the one we loved and continue to love, we were blessed.”

“It was 16 short years, 16 amazing years.”