Thailand speedboat crash: British woman killed 'was on honeymoon'

Rough waters and strong winds caused the boat to capsize off the coast of Koh Samui

A British woman killed in a speedboat accident in Thailand was on her honeymoon, according to reports.

Monica O’Connor, 28, was travelling on a boat with 32 tourists and four crew members when it capsized off the coast of Koh Samui, one of Thailand’s largest islands, amid strong winds and rough waters. Ms O’Connor’s husband, Tim, is believed to have escaped the crash unharmed.

A German man and a woman from Hong Kong were also killed in the accident.

A search operation has resumed for a missing British man, Jason Parnell, 46, who was celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife Puja on the vessel.

A spokesman for Koh Samui tourist police said: “We will not finish until we find him.”

The Angthong Discovery Tour’s captain, Sanan Seekakiaw, was taken into police custody following the crash and could face a charge of reckless endangerment causing death, which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Mr Seekakiaw said he had asked all tourists to wear a life vest but that some had taken them off during the journey.

Amm Pontfuk, a travel agent who has worked with Angthong Discovery for a number of years, said the boat had not left shore in the days preceding the accident due to rough conditions.

She told the Press Association: “This company is the number one for my travel agency, I have sent the manager customers for years, I have known him a long time.

“He is very concerned and professional, normally in bad weather he doesn’t go out – he did not go out for three days already – and yesterday he thought the weather was OK and that was why he went out.

“The wind blew very, very strong and it made the boat go under the waves and flip.”

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has sadly died following a boat accident near Koh Samui, Thailand.

“We are also supporting the family of a British man who is missing following the same incident. We remain in contact with local authorities in Thailand for further information.”

This report was contributed to by the Press Association