BACKPACKER Kevin Fisher spent Boxing Day frantically searching through bodies in Thailand trying to find his travel companion Mark Stevens, of Sturry.

Kevin, 33, a former Canterbury High School pupil, and Mark, of Sturry, had not seen each other since before the tsunami smashed into the resort of Phuket where they were staying.

As soon as he was able to borrow a mobile phone, Kevin made a desperate call to parents Bob and Pat Fisher, of Copinger Close, Hales Place, Canterbury.

Mr Fisher, a retired former Royal Marine said: "He told us it was a harvest of dead bodies all around him

"There were bodies in trees and there were bodies of little children."

"He had been to hospitals, mortuaries, even looking at dead bodies that were just lying about trying to find Mark," said Mrs Fisher.

Friends for many years, Kevin, a carpenter, and painter and decorator Mark had flown out on December 20 for a backpacking holiday. The pair had made similar trips before, and knew many people at the resort.

"Kevin didn't have time to tell us what he was doing when the wave hit," said Mr Fisher. "He was trying to save the battery on the phone, and any way he was going ballistic looking for Mark. He'd gone back to their hotel after the massive wave hit but everyone had gone."

Late on Tuesday, Mr and Mrs Fisher received a call from another friend of Kevin's to say Mark had been found safe and well, having been with another group of friends when the wave hit.

Miraculously, their entire travelling circle had escaped the disaster that has claimed at least 68,000 lives.

Mr and Mrs Fisher, who also have a daughter Karen, do not know when they will next see their son.

"He will probably stay and help out, he's already gone to the hospital to give blood," said Mr Fisher. "He also said there was no panic among all the tourists and the locals out there, that everybody was helping each other.

"But he told me I would not believe what he had seen. I've never known him to be poetic, but he said that the word awesome wasn't sufficient to describe the power of destruction caused by Mother Nature."

* THE Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent a message of sympathy and support to the people affected by the tsunami.

In a personal letter to Anglican leaders in the region Dr Williams said: "This tragedy has had a devastating impact in Asia; it is also felt here in Britain and across the world.

"Every life lost is a personal tragedy for each family and our hearts go out to the bereaved and injured. The hardship caused by this devastation will be a challenge to many and will require the help and support of the world community. You are all very much in my thoughts and prayers at this time."