Missing Briton found alive after tsunami ordeal

A London man believed by friends and family to have perished in the recent Asian tsunami disaster has instead returned home, safe and sound, more than two weeks after the catastrophe. Acquaintances of the survivor have spoken of their surprise at news of his continued existence, so long after his expected date of return to the UK had passed with no news of his whereabouts.

Mr Anthony Blair of Connaught Square, Westminster is believed to have survived the oceanic catastrophe completely unharmed despite being on an exposed beach when the tragedy occurred.

Blair's miraculous escape has yet to be properly explained but experts are even more baffled as to where he has been located in the fortnight since 26 December. It is thought possible that his location may have been so remote that rescuers bypassed it unawares. Indeed, British officials have been unable to discover any mention of the area called Egypt, where he was staying, on any known map of Indonesia.

"Perhaps he was left clinging to a tree above the water line or floated on a makeshift raft across the ocean alone," guessed one commentator plaintively. "Maybe he managed to struggle to reach some part of the moral higher ground," wondered another.

Experts believe that Mr Blair's refusal to talk about his mysterious absence since he arrived back in London is probably some form of a psychological defence mechanism. "By refusing to tell anyone where he's been he may feel that nothing terrible has really happened to him at all and that people will just stop talking about it," explained a doctor. "It's highly likely that being confronted with the calamity now and forced to comment will just make things worse for the poor man."

Blair meanwhile has pleaded with reporters to be left alone to recover from his terrible ordeal and has refused to answer any questions whatsoever on the matter.

Previously

• Is the real Tony Blair still alive?
• Pope honoured by Blair visit
• Downing Street Xmas card mystery deepens