A TSUNAMI survivor has told how he was seconds from death after being caught up in the disaster.

Colin Donnelly, 27, of Boundary Road, Blackfen, and his girlfriend Jeanette Reed, 26, were washed into a shop on the Thai island of Ko Phi Phi as the terror wave struck.

As the shop began to fill with water, Colin grabbed Jeanette and had to swim underwater through the shop’s half closed shutter.

He said: “It was scary. We didn’t know what was happening. There was only about two feet between us and the ceiling – and it was filling up. There was no obvious way out.

“We’re just thankful to be back home, safe, but even now, two weeks on, we can’t say we have properly come to terms with what happened.”

Colin, a building services manager for a conference centre in Westminster, had been travelling for a year when his girlfriend joined him on Phi Phi, a place he had visited five times and described as “my favourite place in the world”.

With help from Thai people, they were back on home soil a mere 48 hours after being caught up in the tsunami.

Now Colin’s sister Jenny, 23, has organised a benefit party to help raise much needed funds for the countries hit by the tsunami. She has been able to hire top Bexleyheath venue Zero Degrees free of charge on Friday, February 11, and said she had been inspired to do so after hearing Colin’s story.

She said: “They are all well aware of how extremely lucky they were compared to others. My brother his girlfriend and friend are entirely grateful to the Thai people who remained compassionate and helpful amid their own suffering.

“It appears this has been the same in all countries affected - locals have unfailingly helped and supported the thousands of British and European holidaymakers caught in the tragedy. I now feel that I want to return that help, and feel that I can do this by organising this benefit party and raising as much money as possible.”

The capacity of the function room is 200, and she is confident she can fill at £5 a ticket. A DJ and Welling rock band Eddison are also providing their services for free.

Jenny is now asking local companies to donate items for a raffle. If the response is big enough, they may even be able to hold an auction and raise more money.

Colin said: “Please give generously to the raffle. No matter how small, it will all help. The people who helped us were fantastic, and we feel we just can’t not do anything.”

All funds raised from the benefit party will be passed on to the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC).

If you can help, contact Jenny Donnelly on 07956 519 314.