People from Essex were caught up in the huge Asian earthquake which has left thousands dead.

Devastation - on Phuket, Thailand.

The death toll from the subsequent tidal wave, which devastated the coastline along the Indian Ocean, was today feared to be 42,000.

As traumatised holidaymakers made their way back to the UK, and lines of communication began to reopen, people from Essex told of their amazing escapes.

Tim Acton, of Wrabness, near Harwich, was sitting on the beach in Khao Lak, Thailand, when the "wall of water" struck.

The 25-year-old, who runs a clothes shop in the resort, was reported as saying: "There had been no warning of any kind, then suddenly a ten-metre (35ft) high wave swept up on to the shore.

"People tried desperately to escape but it was moving too fast. People were caught up and just flung around .

"We helped half a dozen people get to hospital, but we had to try three before we could find one that wasn't already full."

A Chelmsford man told from his hospital bed on the Thai island of Phuket how he climbed a tree to escape being swept away by the tsunami (tidal wave).

John Regan, who was in Thailand with girlfriend Rita Medve, had been standing on a beach when the killer wave hit the land.

Mr Regan, who is recovering in hospital from his wounds, said: "The sea started to go out at high speed. I saw on the horizon a huge wave. I said to Rita 'It's not going to stop'.

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Published Tuesday, December 28, 2004

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