Pal's dash to find Thai ex-wife

Kevin Haworth and his Thai wife Penkae, say their friend Jason, who lives in Phuket but had been visiting their Padiham home over Christmas, has been unable to contact ex-wife since the tsunami devastated south-east Asia on Boxing Day.

The tidal wave devastated Patong Beach, where she lives.

Jason has not been able to contact her on her mobile phone since then and has spent the last three days trying to organise a flight home.

Mr Haworth, a company director, said: "Jason's ex-wife works for the church in Phuket but there has been no contact since the wave hit.

"We are fearing the worst and Jason has flown back early to try and find her. He has promised to email me when he has any news.

"We both keep watching it on the television and can't believe the devastation."

Mr Haworth met Penkae, an interior designer from Surin, Thailand, when he was posted there to work.

They lived together in Bangkok for six years and Mrs Haworth, has friends and family in Northern Thailand, which was unaffected by the tsunami.

Mr Haworth, said: "We visited Phuket many times while we lived in Bangkok and made lots of good friends there.

"There were friends of ours down there diving who we are really worried about, as a group of divers were the first to be reported dead.

"We have been trying to call them but there is no answer."

Mr Haworth's mother, Wendy Haworth of Palmerston Street, Padiham, said she could not recognise Phuket from the place she has visited many times.

She said: "I expected Kevin to go to Thailand for Christmas and even asked him why he had decided not to go this year when he usually does.

"I am just so pleased that they decided not to go.

"Even though we see the pictures on the news we just can't imagine what it is like for the poor people who are out there.

"It is so frightening and it seems that more and more Britons are being reported missing.

"I am just pleased that Kevin and Penkae are safe at home and none of Penkae's relatives are involved."