A couple who survived a fatal train crash that claimed five lives and left another 17 people injured spoke today of their ordeal.

Matthew Hedges, 29, and his girlfriend Julie Brown, 34, from Kemp Town, Brighton, were on a three-week holiday in Cuba and were travelling north for the final week of their trip.

They had to smash a window and climb out of their derailed carriage after the train ploughed into the back of another which had broken down.

The couple, who fly home to Gatwick on Thursday, were on a 14-hour overnight journey from Santiago to Havana when the crash happened.

Today, Miss Brown, a BA air stewardess based at Heathrow, said: "It happened in the middle of the night while we were asleep.

"The lights went out and everybody was screaming. When we got out two of the carriages had completely come off the rails and they were either side of our carriage.

"Five people were killed and there was one dead body by the side of our carriage. Our driver was dead as well. At first I was just glad to be alive. Because I am trained with the airline I was fairly calm.

"I was going to use my first aid training but everybody we saw was dead so there was nothing I could do. We got together with a few Europeans who were on the train and sat by the side of the track."

Miss Brown suffered a bruised leg in the crash and Mr Hedges a slight cut to the knee.

Mr Hedges' mother Jan, who lives in Norwich, said: "Matthew and Julie found their way out of the carriage using a torch he had and then smashed a window to escape.

"We couldn't get through to Cuba - it was really frustrating. I was in shock when I heard they had been in an accident, but Julie's mum told me they were okay. It just brought it home to me how close I was to losing my son.

"Julie's mother phoned me and said, 'I've got some news for you that will shock you,' and my first thought was that they had got married. Then she told me about the crash and thankfully they were fine.

"It goes to show you can be anywhere at any time. The irony is, Matthew doesn't like flying but his girlfriend is an air stewardess. They had flown to Cuba on a 36-seater from Jamaica and he was terrified. The train journey was meant to be relaxing for him."

Mr Hedges' father Len said: " He told me he was surprised that he reacted so calmly, especially when others around him had not been so lucky. He also said the event had received very little Press over there."

Miss Brown's father, Brian, 64, of Surrenden Park, Brighton, said: "I am just pleased they are both okay."

The Foreign Office said it was unaware of the crash and had no details.