Sent: 28 December 2004 13:14 (GMT)
To: BBC Talkingpoint Subject: QUAKE

I awoke the morning of 26th early 07:00 in the Bayroo hotel Beruwella,looked out across a flat calm sea... all looked fine for our river estuary trip due at 10.00 that day.

At 09:00 I arose and took a shower,at 09:35 I looked out of the balcony window as there seemed to be a commotion coming from the beach 6 meters away. The sea appeared very choppy as though there was a storm in progress, there was just a slight breeze.

We watched & videoed from our first floor balcony as the first wave surged over the beach and lawn in front, it wasnt immensely powerful just unstoppable. It must have risen 2 meters above the high tide line, engulfing the hotel gardens, the ground floor hotel rooms & lobby. We saw our boat trip organisor trying to remove one of his boats from the trees in the garden, he appologised for the trouble and we agreed to re-arrange the trip for another day.

As this first wave receeded we decided to go to the hotel lobby to investigate and asses the damage, which turned out to be mostly water and mud damage. The sea had started to receede quite fast at this point, the whole of the reef for about 1.5km out was visible. We watched as hotel staff and others attempted to recover various valuable items.

The empty reef had now started to refill and what tuned out to be the second wave started its advance on us. The water was torrential , cross currents, flows and breakers everywhere, more akin to the rapids and torrents of a river in full spate than the seas and ocean states I had seen in the past. This was something I had never seen and I was uneasy about was happening.

There were many people on the beach some probably trying to recover items and some totally unaware of the gravity of the situation that was unfolding about them. The second wave landed approximately 15 minutes after the first (as i recall) appearing to be a little more powerful, rising maybe 0.5 meters higher than the first and causing a similar degree of damage. The ocean started its retreat once again, I guess the tide was effectively 2.5 km out although it was difficult to tell due to the standing water reflection.

Then the reef area began to fill again, only much quicker this time, the torrents seemed more violent. As I zoomed my camera on the horizon I had a problem, the horizon appeared to be much higher than before and curved. I suddenly realised what I was observing. We had about 45 seconds until wave 3 hit. We had a choice go to the first floor or run. In our case either of the 2 options would have had the same outcome. However, running presented more survival options. I turned to my partner and said " f****** run"!.

I left the hotel running, I could hear a hissing sound and an increasing roaring sound. Some were running, others were walking, the roar got louder. Above all I can recall hearing screaming prior to the slap and subsequent impact of the 3rd wave against various buildings on or near the shoreline. The ground shook, probably with various structures collapsing, I kept running, stopping momentarily to look back & see how much distance I had. I saw a 1.5m high wall of what looked like foam 40 meters from me coursing through palm trees, undergrowth and surrounding buildings.

I saw a concrete pyloned water tower standing approx 4 meters high and figured it might be the best bet. I ran towards it but found no easy access to climb it. I climbed over a wire fence beside the tower and continued running until the noise began to subside. I began walking, looking around for Cath who was nowhere to be seen. I walked until I reached the main coast road and waited there for about half an hour... There is a lot more to this story, more so because of the people who afforded hospitality, and help without hesitation, having little or nothing themselves . Their already difficult lives made even more so by this event on the morning of the 26th December 2004.