"They were calling me Wonder Woman and a hero.
"It was a bit odd and a bit embarrassing.
"But it was good to hear.
"It was a good feeling to know I had saved my sister and myself from danger," she said yesterday.
Esme (12) and sister Lydia (8) were playing in the garden of their home in Malvern St about 4.30pm on Sunday when Esme heard loud cracking noises and saw a branch fall from an enormous wattle tree growing on a bank behind the house.
Lydia was engrossed in her game but Esme persuaded her to go inside.
About a minute later, the tree snapped off at the base in strong winds, its branches and foliage crashing through the roof of the house and on to the children's trampoline and the area where the girls had been playing.
Esme said she had an "odd feeling" when she saw the branch fall.
"Fortunately, I followed my instincts. I had a gut feeling we shouldn't be out there."
Lydia said everyone at her school, George St Normal School, knew about the tree coming down because of an article in yesterday's Otago Daily Times.
"My teacher read it out. Everyone was asking me what happened and I told them I almost got killed," she said.
Both girls said they were frightened when the tree fell and worried about what would happen next.
Lydia said she was so worried more of her "childhood memories would be crushed" as the strong winds continued, she got a photograph of herself as a baby and took it to her grandparents' house for safety when the family was evacuated for the night.
Their mother, Rochelle Wilson, was also at home when the tree fell.
Her partner, the children's father, was working overseas but was expected home tomorrow.
Ms Wilson said yesterday she had had "marvellous" support from neighbours and friends.
A tree feller had offered to cut up the tree, and an insurance assessor and a builder had already inspected the damage.
It was likely the family would move into a motel soon.
She said the girls were coping well after their experience.
"We've talked about how lucky they were.
"I'm proud of Esme.
"I think she behaved in a most mature manner."
Esme said she given Lydia some advice.
"I said she had better listen to me more often from now on."
