THE tsunami is believed to have claimed the life of Barry Lloyd-Jones from Broom, who was holidaying in Thailand when the giant wave struck.

Mrs Lloyd-Jones is expected to return home this week after staying with friends in Naiharn.

She was found 100 miles away from Khao Lak after searching hospitals for her husband.

Son-in-law Derek Banks said she was heavily traumatised and last saw her husband when the couple ran from the tsunami at the resort, where they had spent the last four winters.

Mr Lloyd-Jones' son, Nigel, has also flown to Thailand to search for his father.

But even though more than a week has passed since the couple last contacted the family, Derek is refusing to give up hope that his father-in-law is still alive.

"We mistakenly believed that they were staying in the north of Thailand for the Christmas period," he said.

"It wasn't until Monday that we found out from Nigel that they were staying in Khao Lak and then things really kicked into gear when we couldn't get through to the hotel and we heard that hundreds of Brits were missing."

"It's very difficult to remain hopeful forever, but we are hopeful and are following up two or three leads and a couple of reported sightings.

"My wife, Debbie, is eight and a half months pregnant and we're hoping that he will be there for the birth."

Village postmistress at Broom Village Stores Suzanne Betteridge said she had known the Lloyd-Jones' since they moved to the village about 10 years ago.

"Everyone here is shocked," she said. "It's a great tragedy. When you go away on holiday you don't expect things like this to happen."