A journalist from Oxfordshire, who lives in the Thai resort of Phuket, has spoken of the "decimation" of parts of the island.

Simon Hand contacted his parents Carol and Ken, of Oxford Road, Kidlington, to let them know he and his family were safe, and described how the tsunami had devastated areas of the coast.

In an e-mail, Mr Hand, 36, a former pupil of Bicester Community College, in Queens Avenue, gave his account of the destruction after the events of Boxing Day morning, and spoke of the friend who died trying to get people off the beach.

He said: "Damage is restricted to just the beach areas of the south and west coast Kata-Karon, Patong, Kamala, etc.

"Patong is currently closed to traffic and took a pretty heavy hit I understand, though have not seen it. Nai Yang Beach, just south of the airport, is decimated. I was up there yesterday and there is not a single shop, bar or restaurant that has not been destroyed, some are simply not there any more."

Mr Hand, who has been in South East Asia for 11 years, lives on the opposite side of Phuket, which was not affected.

He said: "Until I began to receive the calls of concern from family and friends in the UK and Bangkok just after lunch, I had no idea anything had happened.

"The island is the size of Singapore, so I'm estimating that only about 10 per cent of the island has been affected, albeit the busiest parts."

Mr Hand, who lives with his wife Neng, 36, and daughters Charlotte, two, and Nuttinne, 10, said that when he drove from his home on Boxing Day, it was a normal day.

He said: "It was not until we got down to the waterfront that things started to look different: boats wrapped around trees, beaches dressed in detritus, cars mashed into the sides of buildings.

"I've now toured most of the island except for the three worst hit beaches to which I haven't be able to get access yet. The story is the same everywhere -- devastation of one degree or another right on the coast and for up to 300 yards back, but, by half a mile inland, you wouldn't even know it had happened."

He added: "Ao Sein beach -- at the tip of Nai Harn Bay -- has been decimated, as has the small bay just to the south of Naiharn -- Yanui. Private homes and guest bungalows literally flattened.

"One lady, an old friend of mine, Australian expat Leone Cosins, was killed while trying to get sunbathers off the beach after she spotted the first warning signs.

"Leone had a house right on the beach front and was in the garden when the tide began to withdraw dramatically.

"After warning many tourists to clear the beach, she was unfortunate not to get clear in time. Her house now resembles a bomb-blasted shell."

To donate to the emergency appeal set up by Oxfam and other aid charities call 0870 606 0900