An Alberta couple has arrived home after witnessing the massive earthquake in Christchuch, New Zealand Tuesday.
Jim and Betty Deeks were supposed to fly out just as the quake hit.
The couple safely managed to make it over to Jim's brother's home in the town of Timaru, while they waited for the next flight out.
Late Thursday, the couple arrived at the Edmonton International Airport.
"We are feeling very fortunate that we came out of it with a story to tell but not a tragedy like most of the folks," said Jim and Betty Deeks.
But at least two other Albertans were not as fortunate. Two young locals on a backpacking trip in New Zealand have been seriously injured in the earthquake. Jenna Benoit and her boyfriend, Patrick Lee, have told family in Alberta they don't remember much about what happened after the quake struck. But it is believed they were struck by debris from crumbling buildings around them.
The couple is now being treated in a Christchurch hospital. One man helped pull the couple from the rubble.
"We just held on to them and got them through it. They were the brave ones, they got through it and we just drove them to the hospital," Brent Corbett told CTV News by phone. "By the grace of God, she's alive because three metres to her left there was someone who wasn't."
The Benoits know it could have been much worse for their daughter Jenna.
"Stuff you see in the movies... it's just unreal, but we're thankful there are guys who would just help like that," said Jenna's father Chris Benoit.
The couple's family members are headed to Christchurch to be with Jenna and Patrick. Jenna suffered a fractured spine while Patrick is recovering from head injuries.
There is no word yet on when they will return to Alberta.
With files from Scott Roberts
