A DIVING instructor from Alveston has been reunited with his parents after surviving the tsunami disaster.

J J Squier was teaching a group of tourists to dive off the Thai island of Ko Phi Phi.

J J, 22, was "chucked around like he was in a washing machine" as the massive 30ft wave hit the tourist-packed coastline.

His father Joe, of The Street, said the group of divers had all clung together for their lives and escaped unhurt.

Mr Squire told the Gazette: "He was very lucky, especially being under water. An hour before the group had been diving in a wreck and if they had still been there, we do not think they would have come up.

"If he had been on land he would not have survived. He has lost all his things."

J J, an Oxford graduate and ex-Marlwood School pupil, was on a gap year and had been staying in Thailand for several months.

He stayed on the island for 48 hours to help other victims before being evacuated to Bangkok. There, J J talked to other survivors about his traumatic experience.

In an email to his friends and family in Alveston on Boxing Day morning J J said: "I can't believe it but I'm uninjured and OK. Luckily we were diving pretty deep - we were hit pretty hard though and blown about half a mile out to sea and then back again.

"The scene for the last few days on Phi Phi can only be described as living hell. The whole island except a few buildings were flattened.

"I have no idea where I used to live, so now I only have a few things. Not that I care after seeing the number of dead and seriously injured all over the island.

"None of my close friends have been killed but some are seriously injured and we're not sure where they are being treated.

"I can't believe how many children and families are gone or dead - it is unbelievable and to be honest, I'm still in shock."

His father said: "It was the first we had heard of it - we didn't have the television on that morning. We are just very relieved."

Joe said although he had not heard the full story from his son yet, J J had told him he felt a huge swell above him and the group were thrown back offshore about half a mile. His son said it felt like being inside a washing machine.

J J said afterwards that bodies were floating in the water around the group.

He flew home on Thursday morning and was met by his father at Gatwick.

The total number of dead across Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives was 150,000 as the Gazette went to press. The number of British dead or missing was believed to be nearing 200.