Thredbo survivor reveals why he must remain positive after losing both his wives

The sole survivor of the Thredbo disaster has revealed why he insists he must stay positive after losing both his wives in separate tragedies.

Stuart Diver lost his first wife, Sally, in the 1997 landslide which killed 18, before his second wife, Rosanna, died from breast cancer in 2015 after three years of marriage.

But despite losing the two loves of his life, Mr Diver has managed to remain optimistic, moving on following the setbacks.

"I hope people see me as someone who has been through a couple of big tragedies now, and yet I can still get on with life and live it to the fullest," he told The Sunday Telegraph.

"Overwhelmingly, my life is hugely positive. I know some people may find that strange, as both my wives have died, but it’s true."

Mr Diver revealed he was known as both mum and dad to young daughter Alessia, whom he had with his second wife, insisting he owes it to her to make sure she is not forgotten and the pair live a normal life.

He says the memory of his wives' impacts on his life is just cause to not fill his life with sorrow.

"Both Sally and Rosanna added such an enormous amount to my life that it would be sad for me not to live as positively as I can in their memory," he said.

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Mr Diver, a ski instructor, was the sole survivor when 100 tonnes of earth crushed the popular NSW resort, flattening two ski lodges in July 1997.

He was pulled from the rubble after 68 gruelling hours trapped inside.

Mr Diver returned to the mountain that claimed his wife's life as well as 17 others and managed to find love again with Rosanna.

But after her death in 2015, he was left with the task of raising Alessia alone. He decided their best option would be to remain on the slopes in Thredbo, allowing for the memory of his wife and Alessia's mother to live on.