Elizabeth Wijesena and her 18-month-old daughter RumiA MOTHER from Trowbridge has spoken of the harrowing moments when she was trapped by the Asian tsunami, not knowing if her baby was safe.

Elizabeth Wijesena, 35, her Sri Lankan husband Mahendra, 28, and their 18-month-old daughter Rumi were staying with family in a village near Galle, Sri Lanka, when the tidal waves hit on Boxing Day.

Mrs Wijesena found herself up to her neck in water inside the family home, separated from her husband and daughter, who had been on a nearby beach.

She said: "The worst thing was not knowing what had happened to Mahendra and Rumi. Not knowing if they were safe was so much worse than nearly drowning.

"I am just so grateful that our family are the lucky ones. We are alive."

Mrs Wijesena and Rumi arrived back at their Staverton home this week, while Mr Wijesena remains in his home country to try and help people whose lives have been shattered by the giant wave.

She said: "It has been amazing to come back. The support we have got from family, friends and neighbours has been incredible. It really is heart-warming."

Mrs Wijesena now plans to start a fundraising drive to help the 80 families in her husband's home village, Dalawella, and the surrounding area affected by the devastation.

Across west Wiltshire there has been an unprecedented response to the tragedy, with thousands of pounds raised in a matter of days.

Mrs Wijesena said she wanted to return home to help the aid effort. I didn't want to leave the family but I can do more here by raising funds and keeping my baby safe."

Her husband saved their little girl's life, and that of many others, when he saw the water pull back before the wave came in and shouted for everyone to get to higher ground.

He grabbed his daughter and, pulling his father along with them, ran to higher ground, but his wife, sister and aunt were trapped inside the family's restaurant and guesthouse.

Mrs Wijesena said: "For a few seconds in the water I thought I was going to take my last breath in that room. If Mahendra hadn't taken Rumi we wouldn't have survived. I don't know how I could have kept a baby above the water.

The three women managed to escape by scrabbling on to the roof and later found the rest of the family on a nearby hillside.

Mrs Wijesena said people in the village are now getting food and water supplies sent from countries but desperately need funds to help rebuild their lives.

"Aid has arrived in Sri Lanka but longer term the picture isn't so good.

"It is the short tourist season that sustains them and there is no way they can rebuild quickly enough, even if people wanted to go there. What they need now are cash donations."

For more details of the appeal and how you can help, contact the newsdesk on (01225) 352491.