'Surviving a tsunami has given me purpose in life'

A woman who survived the Boxing Day tsunami 20 years ago said the disaster has given her an "extraordinary purpose" in life.

Clare Allen, who lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, was on holiday in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit.

Although she is still haunted by the image of bodies sweeping past her with their arms outstretched, the disaster changed the course of her life, and she has since set up a charity that works to improve access to education.

More than 230,000 people were killed across 14 countries after a 9.3 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered the deadly wave.

Ms Allen was visiting Sri Lanka with her daughter and husband for a Christmas holiday in 2004.

It was when she went for a massage in a resort therapy room by a beach that things took a turn.

"I had no sensation of the earthquake. Probably 10 minutes into the massage I was told to 'run - run, run to your husband'," she told the BBC documentary I Was There - The Boxing Day Tsunami.

"There was a lot of water and debris everywhere and I was really confused."

Her family quickly travelled south, making it to Kosgoda.

"The devastation was horrific.

"I can remember there were bodies and their hands were reaching out. Probably how they'd been reaching when they finally lost their lives. I remember wishing I'd held their hands.

"It seems odd to remember that when they had already passed away. I dream about that sometimes," she added.

Ms Allen did not want to leave though - she wanted to help.

"I remember family members coming and consoling people who were really upset at the thought of what could have happened.

"I was quite relieved when that died down and I could really crack on with what I needed to do. At that point, that was all I was concerned about," she added.

She was among a small group of survivors who started charity Rebuilding Sri Lanka.

The team was able "to make sure people had a safe and effective way to donate money".

After helping people rebuild their lives following the tsunami, the charity now works to offer better education to children living in Sri Lanka.

Working for the charity has changed Ms Allen's life. She travels to the country three or four times a year, and explained it has had a "profound impact" on her.

"If I had to reduce who I was then to who I am now, [I was} someone with not enough purpose, to someone with extraordinary purpose," she said.

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