A BLACKBURN woman living in Thailand has said she feels lucky to be alive after escaping unharmed from the devastating tidal wave.

Lea Daniels' husband was out fishing off Phuket on Boxing Day when he watched the wave close in on the shore.

She said he did not realise that a disaster was unfolding before his eyes and that he described it as na "ideal surfing wave".

The couple spoke on the boat's radio and then communicated by text message. Lea was at the couple's home in central Phuket, unaware of the oncoming disaster. It was only later that they realised the devastation caused by the huge earthquake in the Indian Ocean,.

Lea, a teacher at Phuket's international college who emigrated from Blackburn three years ago, said: "He texted me and told me they had decided to stay in deeper waters till they had enough information about the waves."

The couple, who have a son, moved from the bay area worst hit to a central area earlier this year.

Lea added: "The bay area has been completely devastated. The school has been closed and set up for people with no home and possessions. The community has been helping any way it can."

She added that the couple were originally from Blackburn, but had worked for three years in Manchester before emigrating.