A MOTHER and daughter were swept on to the top of a building in the tsunami disaster which left York man Stephen Magson presumed dead.

Denise Magson and her daughter, India, survived after being caught up by the massive wave as it engulfed Phi Phi Island, Thailand, on Boxing Day.

They were later rescued from the roof of the building, somehow escaping major injury.

But Denise's husband, Stephen, 54, managing director of Sherburn-in-Elmet removals firm Bishops GS Ltd since 1996, has not been seen since, and is now feared dead.

Sarah Bent, 19, from Copmanthorpe, and her boyfriend, Robert Rowbottom, 21, from near Pocklington, were also still missing today, along with childhood friends Benjamin Watts, 29, and Nova Mills, 28, of Holme upon Spalding Moor.

Today, hundreds of York people took part in a poignant three-minute silence to remember the tsunami victims.

In St Helen's Square, York, the city's Lord Mayor, Coun Janet Looker, City of York Council's chief executive David Atkinson, and town crier John Redpath, bowed their heads in tribute.

The Magson family, from Holgate Bridge Gardens, were enjoying a holiday in Thailand when the wave struck.

Jacqueline Meadows, accounts manager at Bishops, said they were all "devastated".

"Denise said the people in the water had a better chance of surviving than those on the beach," she said.

"They (Denise and India) were apparently landed on the top of a building by the wave and then rescued from there. It's a miracle.

"Steve was one of the good guys and everyone will miss him."

Denise and India returned to York on New Year's Day. Denise's sister, Gill, and partner, Tim, also went out to Thailand to help with the search and Tim flew home last night.

In a statement, released by the family, they said that their hopes of finding Steve alive were "fading".

They revealed that they had spoken to family and friends in the UK the night before the tragedy to wish them a happy Christmas and say what a "happy time they were having".

"When the tsunami hit Phi Phi, Denise and India were out at sea in a kayak and Steve was watching them from the beach," the statement said.

"Denise and India miraculously survived a terrible ordeal, together, without any major injuries, but there was no sign of Steve. Denise and India were evacuated the next day to Phuket.

Meanwhile, York doctor Bob Adams has resumed normal practice after his Christmas holiday was cut short when he found himself helping disaster victims. Dr Adams, 48, a consultant psychiatrist to Selby and York Primary Care Trust, and his wife, Barbara, a trainee nurse, were on holiday in Sri Lanka when the wave struck.

The pair helped treat survivors in Colombo after they were evacuated from their resort.

Updated: 14:40 Wednesday, January 05, 2005