Gold Coast woman loses everything after Labrador home caved in on her

While it was flooding for some, an extended power outage for others and forced downtime for many, Nadine Hartwig has lost everything. Here’s how you can help

While it was flooding for some, an extended power outage for others and forced downtime for many, Nadine Hartwig (nee Wright) has lost everything.

The Labrador woman was taking shelter in her bathroom as ex-tropical cyclone Alfred tore through her apartment block, ripping the roof off above her.

Riding out the half-a-century storm on her own, Ms Hartwig bunkered down under a mattress when loud sounds came from the roof.

Labrador woman Nadine Hartwig lost her home due to tropical cyclone Alfred: Picture Glenn Hampson

“I’ve lost it all,” she said.

“All I remember is just the roof lifting off the building, and then the ceiling imploding in on me and debris everywhere.”

Thankfully Ms Hartwig was under a mattress, leaving her physical injuries to a minimum and her lucky to be alive.

“You just go into survival mode – I tried to make myself as safe as possible just being in that bathroom,” she said.

“When I saw everything come down, I just went, oh s—, you know. I think your life flashes before your eyes really.

“I must have lost track of time, but then I heard police come into the bathroom and they pulled me out of there. All I had was my pillow and my mobile phone in my hand.”

Ms Hartwig was transported to hospital and treated with minor injuries and all other occupants of the building evacuated.

Upon her return the following day the devastation set it.

“I had my sister pick me up from the hospital on Saturday morning,” she said.

“We went straight back there, and that was terrifying. The debris in that apartment is devastating.

Nadine Hart was lucky to get out alive as her roof fell on her. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I’ve got nothing left. Nothing.”

Furniture, a lifetime of belongings, the home she owned gone in an instant.

Ms Wright said she’s contacted her insurer, but has no timeline on repairs or emergency accommodation.

“There’s nothing more I can do,” she said.

“I have no indication as to how long a rebuild will take. I’m staying at my sister’s out in Ormeau at the moment and she has no power, so I was at the laundromat yesterday trying to dry some clothes, talking to a lady there impacted by the Christmas storms. She’s still going through repairs and that was more than a year ago. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Her niece Brooke Hill, started a GoFundMe to help generate support for her aunt during this horrific life changing event. To donate visit: https://gofund.me/3a07aa22

Originally published as Gold Coast woman loses everything after Labrador home caved in on her