A young mother in Savusavu is counting her lucky stars as her family was spared the destructive waters that were brought in Hurricane Tomas.

Louisa Gerad whose family lives in Nukubalavu in Savusavu said that they all fled to the higher ground when they heard a loud roaring sound coming from the sea.

She said when she heard the sound she grabbed her one year old daughter and younger son and took off to the hills.

When she came back at to her home the next day, she noticed that the waves had washed sand and debris to their doorstep.