Three British killed in Thai boat tragedy

At least three British people were among tourists who drowned when an overloaded speedboat capsized as it was sailing them from a Thai beach party, police said today.

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said they had been told there were no Irish hurt, killed or missing in the incident.

Rescuers are searching for at least four tourists still missing after the overcrowded boat capsized and sank but held out little hope of finding any survivors.

A Thai woman’s body was found today, raising the death toll to eight.

Police said 10 people remained missing in the Pha-Ngan and Samui areas of southern Thailand, but authorities have so far only been able to confirm that four of them were on the boat.

Of the eight killed, three were British, one American and four Thai, said police Lieutenant Colonel Veerayuth Hiran.

One Briton was named as Marc Elder-Bradley, 38, from London.

Samran Rungruen, the skipper of the 30-foot boat surrendered to police today and blamed the accident on a mechanical problem.

He had fled the scene yesterday when the boat capsized and sank while carrying 40-50 people, far more than the 25-30 it was designed for, said Veerayuth.

Authorities continued to interview tourists at guest houses and resorts on Samui Island to account for the missing.

“The information about missing people is very sketchy because the people we have talked to often don’t know whether their friends or relatives were on that boat,” said Lt. Korjaru Sangamantorn, the marine police chief.

The boat capsized at about 5.30am on Tuesday as it was travelling from Pha-Ngan Island, which attracts thousands of young foreigners to monthly full moon parties, to the larger resort of Samui.

Survivors who were rescued about three miles from Samui’s pier said most of the boat’s passengers were drunk.