Claire Rowlands, a teacher at Ballarat High School, was holidaying at the Samoan beach resort area of Lalomanu with Mt Clear College teacher Vivien Hodgins when the tsunami hit.

Ms Rowlands survived, but Ms Hodgins, 55, was tragically killed.

Ms Rowlands family today released a statement to the media expressing their relief and sadness.

''We are relieved mum is okay and have spoken briefly with her, but then we are all incredibly shocked and sad,'' her daughter Jane, 24, said.

''The Hodgins-Mays are like our second family.''

''We greatly appreciate the support given by so many family and friends, but also the assistance given by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Federal Police who have worked tirelessly to assist us,'' husband John said.

The family, which also consists of daughters Anna, 22, and Lucy, 20, said Ms Rowlands was in a stable condition in a Samoan hospital but was distraught over Viv’s death and traumatised over her terrible experience.

The pair were on a 10-day holiday and due to fly out that evening when they felt a tremor.

Ms Hodgins sent a message to her family and Mr Rowlands to say there had been a tremor, describing it as ''spooky''.

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