Bikini girl's disaster ordeal

What followed was Claire's personal experience in the global catastrophe which has dominated this week's international news.

Claire, 25, of Jameson Road, on holiday with boyfriend Rob, relayed her story by telephone to her mother Jackie this week.

Jackie told the Observer: "The tidal wave struck at 8.30 in the morning local time. Claire and Rob Hopper were in their hotel room. Claire was wearing only a bikini and a sarong.

"She said this 12ft wall of water suddenly swept them out of the window and on to a ledge.

"Some of the hotel boys came. They all linked hands and managed to get to a road. Rob had only one shoe.

"They met up with an Australian family and hitched a ride in a truck on the road to Kandy, where, luckily, they have friends.

"Claire was very upset when she first phoned. The next time she was more practical. They were lucky because they had friends in Kandy who were able to loan them clothes and give them accommodation. They also drove them to Colombo to get temporary passports.

"They can't get a flight back to Heathrow until Sunday. But it won't do her any harm to have remained out there for a while. You have to confront a few demons - and she certainly has."

Jackie was delighted when Claire gave up a career as an air hostess to study nursing.

But the pair are no strangers to the dangers of travel.

"We were in Florida in August when Hurricane Charlie, the first of the hurricane season, hit.

"We were evacuated to Tampa but we missed Tampa and ended up in Orlando!"

Jackie says: "Boxing Day was a nightmare. I wake up at four every morning.

"I put Sky News on and couldn't believe it. The death toll at that time was only 1,000 but I sat there thinking 'O my God!'

"I didn't see how they could have got away. I couldn't phone Claire - and I didn't know which travel firm she had gone with.

"She had been apologetic about going away at Christmas.

"The last words I said to her were 'Have a lovely time - be safe...'

"All through the day I was thinking positively. I had thought they would be too far round for it to have hit them.

"But they were near Galle which was worst-hit. You feel so powerless. There is nothing you can do.

"They lost everything except what they stood up in - but they have got their lives.

"I am so relieved - but I shall not be content until I see her at the airport and really know that she is safe."