UPDATE - Captain arrested after fatal Thai speedboat accident

UPDATES THROUGHOUT

By CS Thana

BANGKOK (AA) – Thai police have arrested a speedboat captain for reckless endangerment after an accident off the resort island of Koh Samui left three tourists dead and one missing.

Pol. Lt. Navee Chitbarn of Samui Police told Anadolu Agency by phone Friday that the captain was placed in custody because he "did not order the tourists and his crew to put on life vests."

The speedboat, which had been carrying 32 tourists and four crew, overturned and capsized late Thursday afternoon after it was hit by a “rogue” wave off the coast of Koh Samui, he said.

The boat had been returning from a day trip to Ang Thong National Park where the tourists had been snorkeling.

Police recovered the body of a Hong Kong woman from the area Friday morning, bringing the death toll to three. She had not been wearing a life vest.

One British man remains missing.

There are regular tours between Koh Samui and Ang Thong National Park, a marine recreational area in the Gulf of Thailand from where the speedboat was returning.

Tourists charter speedboats for day trips from Koh Samui to Ang Thong for a variety of activities including snorkeling and scuba diving.