An Australian man has been formally charged by Thai police over a fatal jet-ski accident that claimed the life of his 20-year-old girlfriend off the resort island of Phuket.
Tom Keating, 22, met with police in Phuket on Thursday, following the accident that claimed the life of Emily Collie late on Sunday while the pair were jet skiing.
Mr Keating has said he was blinded by reflecting sunlight of the late afternoon when his jet ski crashed into Ms Collier's ski at high speed.
She sustained multiple injuries and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
On Thursday, Mr Keating was formally charged with reckless driving causing death. Police also confiscated his passport.
Family members of Mr Keating and Ms Collier, who arrived in Thailand a day earlier, accompanied him to the police station.
Ms Collier, from Kyabram, north of Melbourne, had been a student at Charles Sturt University.
Emily's parents, Ian and Sally Collier, in a statement released through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said they did not apportion blame on Mr Keating for the tragedy.
"We are in the midst of grieving through the sudden loss of our precious daughter, Emily. This was a tragic accident," the statement said.
"We do not believe anybody was at fault. In particular, we do not place any blame on Tom," they said.
Thai police from the Karon police station told local reporters Mr Keating was expected to face a court hearing within two weeks.
They said it was likely he would receive a suspended jail sentence of up to two years.
DFAT said it was providing assistance to both families.
