Twenty-six-year-old Hayley Simmons from Tenby has had a miraculous escape from the Indian earthquake disaster.

Hayley and her fiancé, Hannes, are currently backpacking around India and were in Bhju - the worst-hit area in the western state of Gujarat - on Friday when the tragedy of catastrophic proportions struck.

Fortunately, the couple were not injured, but they were naturally very shocked by the whole disaster.

The country's most devastating earthquake for 50 years has caused mass devastation, flattening buildings, killing many thousands of people and leaving thousands more homeless.

"The last time I heard from Hayley they were in the Himalayas," her mother, Meryl Cooke told the Observer this week.

"She told me that they were moving to somewhere warmer, but I had no idea they were anywhere near the earthquake-hit area until I had a telephone call from a British journalist on Sunday who told me that Hayley and Hannes were both well and were not injured in the disaster.

"The journalist said that they were making their way out of Bhju and would be in touch as soon as possible," she continued.

"I then had a 'phone call from Hayley on Sunday night, which was their Monday morning, and she said they were both well. They have both been very very lucky."

Meryl and her husband Bobby, the steward and stewardess of Tenby Conservative Club, were delighted to receive an e-mail from Hayley on Tuesday explaining what had happened.

"We are in so much shock and have had a hard couple of days, but we are so lucky to be alive," wrote Hayley.

"Estimates are that 60,000 people have died in the area we were in and 90 per cent of buildings came down. It was too much to see, but we coped really well.

"When the earthquake started we were in our room. The bed started shaking, but I managed to grab our money and passport and we ran," she continued.

"The whole place was swaying and the buildings were falling down around us, all the cows were charging towards us. It was a crazy sight," she explained.

"Later, we got our clothes and left. We slept at the temple outside with all the Indians, but the earthquake tremors could still be felt.

"The next day we went to the main town, and it was then that the shock of the whole disaster hit us. There was nothing standing. We couldn't leave because all the buses were either all full or not going, so Hannes made a small house with four posts and cloth wrapped around them.

"We had no food or water until the Indians gave us all that we needed. The government gave out blankets, medicine, food and water, and it was amazing how the people were all helping us.

"They were so nice and we will never forget their kindness. Many of them had lost their families and homes, but they were still trying to help us. It was too much for us, we were on the edge of crying and we were so scared and frightened that the earthquake may strike again. It was such an experience."

After not being able to sleep for four nights, the couple managed to reach the safety of Udaipur, in the next district.

"Now the shock has hit us and Hannes is ill with a cold, only from the shock of it all. I feel like crying all the time, it is just too much what we have been through. We are very lucky to be alive," added Hayley

Hayley, who has made her home in Switzerland, and Hannes are now planning to make their way to Delhi where they are due to get married in two weeks time.