Second Briton Among Four Killed In Boat Crash

The body of a British man who was missing after a speedboat crashed in Thailand has been recovered by a search and rescue team.

Workers had battled rough seas to find Jason Parnell, who was thrown overboard with dozens of other tourists when their boat was slammed by a wave off the coast of Koh Samui.

The 46-year-old had been celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife Puja when the boat went down, but she survived.

Mr Parnell is the fourth person known to have died in Thursday's accident.

A British woman who was on her honeymoon, Monica O'Connor, was also killed. It is believed the 28-year-old's husband Tim escaped unharmed.

Officials in Thailand have named the other two female victims as Trunk Laidka, a 30-year-old from Hong Kong, and 29-year-old German national Kafo Franeiska.

The captain of the Angthong Discovery Tour boat, Sanan Seekakiaw, has been charged with negligence leading to deaths and injuries, a crime that carries up to 10 years in prison.

He claims he had asked all 32 tourists on board to wear a life vest, but some had taken them off during the journey.

Some passengers were thrown from the boat when it was hit by the wave, while others became trapped underneath.

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

Safety concerns have frequently been raised about the boats used to ferry passengers around Thailand's beaches, amid allegations that life vests are often in short supply.

Speedboats are often overcrowded, as some companies attempt to squeeze extra profit from each ride.

A local travel agent said the capsized tour boat had not sailed in the days before the accident because of the rough conditions.