Families' relief as bomb resort girls return home

Sisters Natasha and Stacey Mugford and their friend Kathryn Tuck were just a few hundred metres from the explosions, which killed at least 88 people two weeks ago.

The girls arrived in the Egyptian resort the day before three bombs exploded in quick succession in the Old Market and Na'ama Bay regions of the resort.

After spending a night out in Na'ama Bay on Thursday they stayed home on Friday night.

They were just dozing off in their Creative Grand Sharm Hotel room when the bombs went off.

The girls initially feared they would be stranded in the resort but flew into Gatwick on Thursday night.

Speaking from her home in Newleaze, Hilperton, Miss Tuck, 19, said she was thankful to be alive.

She said: "We had been in Na'ama Bay the night before and for some reason decided to stay in the next night.

"I was in bed and the other two were watching the TV.

"We heard these massive bangs and the floor was shaking.

"We were so scared and phoned the reception to find out what was going on but they just said it was nothing."

When the bombs exploded, Kathryn could not get through to mum Helen Donovan and was forced to send a desperate text message. It read: "We're hearing bombs. The ground is shaking. We're scared." Her mum said she almost died of a heart attack after the terrifying message.

Stacey, 23, of Hollis Way Southwick, said: "That night seemed to go on forever, it was the longest night of my life.

"We just lay there in the dark with the mattress over the top of us in the dark.

"It seemed like the sun was never going to come up."

Her sister Natasha, 19, said: "I have never felt so scared in my life. I honestly thought I was going to die. The first thing I thought was at least I've spoken to my mum and told her I love her.

"Since I got home I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and I just can't sleep.

"I seems that nowhere is safe any more. You never know when or where something like this is going to happen."