British woman watches fiance die in Thai cave flood (Roundup)

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Oct 15, 2007, 15:29 GMT

Thai rescue workers look at covered bodies of German tourists killed in cave flash flooding at Surat Thani province southern Thailand, 14 October 2007. Heavy rainfalls quickly flooded the cave in the Khao Sok national park killing at least six German tourists, including three children and their two Thai guides, park officials said. EPA/STR

(M&C) - A British woman has told of her incredible 16 hour ordeal clinging to a ledge of a cave in Thailand after she had watched her fiance swept away to his death.

Helena Carroll, 21, of Solihull, West Midlands told reporters her fiance John Cullen, 24, was one of eight people killed when a freak wave washed away tourists exploring the cave complex in Khao Sok national park, southern Thailand on the weekend.

"One minute I was in what I thought was the most beautiful place in the world. The next thing there is death all around me," she said.

Speaking of her last moments with her fiance she said, "As we climbed I slipped but John grabbed me. We kept climbing higher and found a ledge. We were all alone in the dark. We could not see anything as all the torches had gone."

"John said 'If we stay here, we're going to die'. I said we should stay. But he thought the current would take him out, then he could bring help to rescue me. He slipped into the water and that's the last I ever saw of him."

Ms Carroll clung to the ledge shouting for help for 16 hours before being rescued by searchers. Apart from Mr Cullen, two guides, a family of four and a 10-year-old boy were swept away in the flood caused by recent heavy rainfall.