A family who went to Thailand to recover from tragedy had a narrow escape from the tidal wave disaster.

Barry Adams, 60, of Vicarage Hill, Benfleet, had taken 15 relatives to Krabi as a way of easing the pain following the sudden death of his son Jason, 35.

Speaking from the coastal resort, Mr Adams said: "I took the whole family to Thailand to get away at Christmas after what had happened to Jason.

"We were four miles out to sea in rubber kayaks, after visiting caves, when it apparently struck. But we hardly noticed anything.

"The locals in charge suddenly took us back to shore but didn't say anything and we thought there was a storm coming.

"After we saw all the damage around us, we realised we must have been saved by a headland. That was Jason looking after us."

Mr Adams was shocked by the scenes of devastation back on land, including at the beachfront Sheraton Krabi Beach Hotel where he was staying.

He said: "The hotel was trashed. There was sand everywhere and the water washed rubbish all over the place.

"We think at least one guest was killed and others who were caught on the beach are missing."

Three devastating tsunami waves hit the Krabi coast at about 400 mph. Mr Adams said: "Some people saw it coming and they ran from it but there were still a lot of injuries like broken arms where people were bashed against trees. There are about 400 people from Krabi either dead or missing." The family plan to complete the holiday and return on January 6. Mr Adams's son Jason, who managed the civic amenity site in Stock Road, Southend, died of a rare heart condition in May. He had driven himself to Southend Hospital after becoming unwell. Before he could check in to A&E he collapsed and medical staff were unable to revive him. Among a number of tributes to Jason are a new £7,000 children's park in Thundersley.