In December 2004 , Berkus and his then-partner , photographer Fernando Bengoechea , were vacationing at a beach resort in Sri Lanka when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami hit . While Berkus survived , Bengoechea was missing and presumed dead . Berkus appeared on '' The Oprah Winfrey Show '' on January 17 , 2005 , to talk about the ordeal and the loss of his partner
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
Nate Berkus