DESTROYED: Laura Simon was sitting outside this building which housed the hair salon where she worked. Photo: Supplied
By Antony McArtney
LAURA Simon is one of the lucky Christchurch residents working in the destroyed city centre when the quake hit on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old was sitting outside work as buildings began collapsing five metres away from her.
“I’m just so thankful that everybody got out, I don’t know what I’d do without those people,” says Laura.
She was sharing her experience through text messages, saying she was too upset to speak on the phone.
Laura works for Vida Hair which occupied a building in destroyed Manchester St.
Some of her friends were not as lucky as her workmates.
“So many people have gone [died]. Everything’s ruined. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
She was too upset to talk about the friends who have died.
“I saw things I never imagined, felt things I’ve never felt.”
Laura says she doesn’t remember a lot from the event.
“It’s all gone to mush in my head.”
She is now sitting at home watching the tragedy replayed and recounted on Tv.
Her street is fine, with some liquefaction, but doors aren’t closing in her home.
She has water and power, “thankfully”.
Asked if she was going to leave the city, Laura said she did not know what was going to happen.
“I want to leave but I don’t. My city’s destroyed. I’m just, I don’t know… It’s awful.”
