Monica O’Connor, 28, and at least two other people died when a huge wave capsized boat off coast of Koh Samui on Thursday

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

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

Monica O’Connor, 28, and at least two other people died when a wave capsized their boat off the coast of Koh Samui on Thursday.

A search operation has resumed for a missing British man, 46-year-old Jason Parnell, who was celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife, Puja, when the crash happened.

A spokesman for Koh Samui tourist police said the search would continue until the missing man was found. “The obstacle for today is the rough seas, but we will try our best,” officer Thanakorn Pattananun said on Saturday.

O’Connor’s husband, Tim, and Puja Parnell are both believed to have escaped the crash unharmed.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “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.”

The Angthong Discovery Tour vessel was carrying 32 tourists and four crew members when it overturned after hitting rough waters and strong winds.



A German man and a woman from Hong Kong were also among the dead, Koh Samui authorities said.

The boat’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.

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

Travel agent Amm Pontfuk, who has worked with Angthong Discovery for several years, said the boat had not left shore in the days before the accident due to rough conditions.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Tourism is one of Thailand’s most important industries, but in recent years its reputation has been damaged by a series of fatal bus and boat accidents and crimes involving foreigners.

In January a speedboat struck and killed a French tourist while she was snorkelling in waters reserved for swimmers off an island in Krabi province.