PETRA NEMCOVA - NEMCOVA AND BLUNT BOND OVER TRAGEDY

NEMCOVA AND BLUNT BOND OVER TRAGEDY

Model PETRA NEMCOVA insists her relationship with singer JAMES BLUNT is especially meaningful, because they've both experienced great tragedy in their lives. The Czech beauty nearly died during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami - which claimed the life of her then-boyfriend SIMON ATLEE - and Blunt was a former army captain stationed in Kosovo during the war there. Nemcova claims the couple "relate, understand, without having to explain, where we come from" because of the tragedy they've experienced in their lives. She explains, "You appreciate life differently than other people. James is a real guy who, having been through a lot, has great values. "The tsunami made everything deeper and more intense. Time's too short to waste a moment of joy with anyone who's still here. "I'm definitely, definitely in love."