Vani Levacibau and her husband Luke were inseparable. The Nasau Village in Koro couple have been married for almost 30 years.

The killer storm that struck the island a year ago today caused them to part ways forever. The couple were swept away by tidal waves that swept through the village.

Ms Levacibau, 54, was with her husband at home when the tidal surges hit. Her husband – a carrier driver – held her hand tightly as they tried to stay afloat.

Mr Levacibau was known to have lingering knee problem.

She realised her husband was no longer alive when she saw his body floating next to her.

She gripped his hand tighter.

Instincts convinced her to let go. Ms Levacibau swam towards a tree trunk — an act that saved her life.

“I miss him every day and we will always remember him,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“But now, I pray every day about the weather because we don’t know how it will turn out. Especially when we are still living in tents and makeshift homes.

“Even if it rains heavily or just for a few minutes of strong winds, we fear for our lives because we have learned so much from TC Winston.”

She said her husband had worked as a Fiji Islands Maritime Safety Administration (FIMSA) ship surveyor in Levuka before retiring.

He is originally from Nairai but has maternal links to Nasau.