British Man Missing After Speedboat Tragedy

A British man missing after a speedboat capsized in Thailand had been celebrating his first anniversary with his wife.

Divers are continuing to search for 46-year-old Jason Parnell, who had been aboard the craft when it overturned off the popular tourist island of Koh Samui.

His wife Puja, who was with him on the Angthong Discovery Tour, was rescued.

Another Briton was among at least three people killed after the vessel was struck by a large wave on Thursday.

She has been named by Thai police as 28-year-old Monica Cozma.

A German man and a woman from Hong Kong were also among the dead.

It is thought there were other British people on board but they are believed to have been released from hospital following treatment for injuries.

There had been 32 passengers and four crew aboard when the vessel flipped over in strong winds and rough seas as it returned from a day trip to Mu Ko Ang Thong marine park.

Some passengers were thrown from the boat while others became trapped underneath.

At least one person was pulled to safety after rescuers used an axe to smash through the hull.

Nearby fishing and tourist boats pulled many of the passengers from the water.

The boat's captain, Sanan Seekakiaw, has been detained by police and faces a possible charge of reckless endangerment causing death, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

He insists he had asked all tourists to wear a lifejacket but some had taken them off during the trip.

Travel agent Amm Pontfuk, who has worked with Angthong Discovery for a number of years, said the boat had not gone out in the days before the tragedy because of rough conditions.

She said: "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."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign 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."