Wellington woman drowns at Phuket

Leone Cosens, a former Wellingtonian who has lived in Thailand for 12 years, has been named as the New Zealand woman killed in the Asian tsunamis.

Mrs Cosens, 51, drowned in the Phuket area, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last night.

A television report said Mrs Cosens was married to an American. They owned a beach resort.

Her body was discovered by rescue workers early yesterday (NZ time).

Wellington man Jeremaiah Boyack suffered a broken leg in southern India.

The 31-year-old, his Australian girlfriend, Lisa Clark, and four English friends were sitting on Cherai Beach when the tsunami hit.

They tried to run but were swept up and slammed into a brick wall, said Mr Boyack's father, Columbia Boyack, of Lower Hutt.

"They are all battered and bruised but Jeremaiah has come off the worst," he said.

His leg was broken in three places and he had surgery to his ankle to have a pin inserted, but would need further operations.

"They said they couldn't fix it ... They said they might have to amputate part of his foot."

Of the others in the group, three remained in hospital and one was treated and discharged.

Ms Clark phoned the Boyacks yesterday from a public phonebox but was too distressed to talk in detail.

"They have lost everything. They've got no clothes and no money and have lost their cellphones. Jeremaiah has also lost his passport."

He was awaiting evacuation from a hospital in Madras, also known as Chennai.

Negotiations were under way with Mr Boyack's insurers to have him brought back to Wellington or Brisbane.

House of Travel reported that two of its clients were injured in Phuket.

They needed hospital treatment but the injuries were not serious, said company spokesman Brent Thomas.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said New Zealand officials in Phuket were making inquiries about 180 people whose names had been registered by worried family and friends on a ministry hotline.

Further casualties could not be ruled out, he said.

A Bangkok-based New Zealand police liaison officer, Mike Bush, had arrived in Phuket to help Mrs Cosens' family and any other Kiwis.

Two Foreign Affairs officials were also on their way to Phuket from Singapore, Mr Goff said.

Yesterday afternoon, the ministry updated its website to mention the tsunamis. It said New Zealanders in the region should follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor news reports.

Flight Centre managing director Graeme Moore said between 50 and 100 New Zealanders were on the company's books, some holidaying and others staying with relatives.

Most were in Thailand's holiday spots.

"We have got all our people contacting all of the key hotels just to find out what the story is because it becomes more an issue of health and hygiene."

House of Travel said several of its 12 clients in Phuket had asked to return to New Zealand or move their accommodation.

The two injured Kiwis were in Bangkok last night and were expected to fly home today.

The ministry said yesterday that New Zealanders should not travel to the following areas:

* Thailand: West coast and islands, and to the south generally.

* India: Southern and eastern India, in particular the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

* Sri Lanka: The east coast.

* Maldives: Avoid all travel.

* Indonesia: The west coast of northern Sumatra, including Aceh and islands.

* Malaysia: "We advise checking to confirm it is safe before travelling to Penang and Langkawi."