IT STARTS like any typical holiday video - with the sounds of people having fun as they watch crabs scuttle on to the beach. A man stands on the sand watching as a huge wave makes its way toward the shore.
Seconds later, the laughter turns to screams as sea water covers everything, sending debris crashing into people and buildings.
These are the shocking images caught on camera by Liverpool tourists Steve and Barbara English, unaware they were caught up in the Asian tsunami disaster.
Last night, grandmother Mrs English, 54, gave her account of the dramatic events in which she was saved from being swept away by a quick-thinking hotel worker.
The couple were on a three-week holiday in the Sri Lankan resort of Negombo when the tidal wave hit their beachfront bungalow.
Mrs English said: "It was about 11.30am and a small wave came up the beach a lot further than they normally did, and lots of big crabs came on to the shore.
"We should have realised then what was going on.
"I was filming everything with my video camera. We started walking back to our bungalow, and as we reached it, some locals started shouting, asking us if we wanted to buy the crabs.
"We were still laughing about it when people started screaming for us to move as the next wave hit with a great force. In an instant we were surrounded by water.
"My husband grabbed hold of a wall and we were separated instantly. That's when the real panic set in. I could see him, but I knew I couldn't get to him.
"I was pushed forward by the force of the water, then suddenly the house boy who had been cleaning the bungalows grabbed me and pulled me up on top of the roof.
"We were about 50ft off the ground but the water kept coming.
"Parts of boats, pieces of glass and broken doors were smashing into us."
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