Grant Feltham was working as a property developer with his father at the time of the disaster and had just qualified as a member of the Jersey Field Squadron.
“We all just said why don’t I go out there and try and get involved and assist with the rebuilding,” he said.
Mr Feltham arrived in Sri Lanka several weeks after the disaster and was given the use of a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a translator.
He had a team of locals who worked with various government and humanitarian groups to rebuild houses, roads and other buildings.
Part of his role was to rebuild concrete wells which had been destroyed by the tsunami.
“I was in a well with a local and we were clearing out the bottom area and came across the jaw bone of a skull. That was a bit of a wake up call,” he said.
“We placed it with the local church and closed that well off.
“It’s the environment and the nature of what’s going on around you, you adapt and just get on with it.”