THE parents of a newly-married Kent teacher who died in the Boxing Day tsunami have paid tribute to their daughter.

Hannah Tugwell had been on holiday with her husband of four months, Matthew, when they were swept away in the disaster.

Her parents, Michael and Wendy Perry, have just returned from the area after holding a cremation there and have spoken to the Medway Messenger about their loss.

Hannah, a special needs teacher at the Marlborough Centre in Hoo, near Rochester, and Matthew, were staying in a beachside bungalow.

Matthew was swept inland and survived by clinging to a coconut palm, but Hannah was taken out to sea.

Her body was recovered earlier last month (March) and she was identified using dental records.

The pair, who lived in Chainhurst, near Maidstone, had travelled to Khao Lak for a diving holiday in December.

Hannah's dad, who lives in Cornwall, said: "When I heard that Hannah had gone missing I went out to Thailand straight away.

"When Matthew and I reached Khao Lak and saw the devastation, it was obvious there was no hope for her. I was amazed that Matthew had survived because their bungalow was so close to the water.

"I was very surprised at how quickly Hannah's body was found. We had geared ourselves up for a 12 or 18 month wait."

Mr and Mrs Perry, Matthew and his brother, mum and step father, flew to Bangkok for the cremation ceremony.

Mr Perry said:"The embassy staff had gone to great lengths to make sure the ceremony was exactly as we had wished. They could not have been more helpful and sympathetic."

"Hannah was not a religious person and we thought to bring her home would cause too much distress so we decided on a Buddhist ceremony."

Hannah, who had married Matthew in August, loved travelling and was enjoying her second holiday in Thailand when the tsunami hit.

"Hannah was off-beat and very independent from a young age. She loved children and seemed to have a gift for working with them. We are very proud of her." said Michael.

Hannah moved to Medway to study fashion at KIAD in Rochester before discovering her talents with children.

At the time of the service staff and children from the Marlborough centre held a minute silence in her memory.

Following the cremation ceremony, Hannah's family returned home with her ashes.

"Matthew has not yet decided where to scatter Hannah's ashes, but is thinking of taking them to the glacier on Mount Cook in New Zealand where they were married." said Mr Perry.