It is hard to comprehend the force with which Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin early on Christmas Day 50 years ago.

It was so ferocious that it killed 66 people, partly or completely destroyed 10,000 homes, and wiped out most public utilities.

John Fegan was there in 1974 and lived to tell the tale.

Mr. Fegan told Dean Miller on 4BC Summer Breakfast, 'I think that most of Darwin was just so excited about Christmas, they were just pushing this into the background and just weren't ready for it.'

'All of a sudden the roof caved in. Then the walls started caving in. We had to get the hell out of there.'

'The most terrifying thing that I can remember is the sound of a sheet of corrugated iron travelling at 200 kilometres an hour through the air.You know, it's just the sound of it.'

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