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| Thailand speedboat capsize: Widower's tribute to newlywed Monica O'Connor | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A newlywed who was killed when a speedboat capsized during her honeymoon in Thailand was "warm, family-oriented and loving", her widower has said. | |
| Monica O'Connor, 28, was among three people who died after the boat overturned near the island of Koh Samui. | Monica O'Connor, 28, was among three people who died after the boat overturned near the island of Koh Samui. |
| Tim O'Connor, from Sale, Greater Manchester, survived the accident, on 26 May. | |
| The 30-year-old said Ms O'Connor "always had time for everybody". | The 30-year-old said Ms O'Connor "always had time for everybody". |
| Paying tribute to his Romanian-born wife, he added: "She had always been a very hard worker and was very proud of what she had achieved. | Paying tribute to his Romanian-born wife, he added: "She had always been a very hard worker and was very proud of what she had achieved. |
| "She had become a British subject after passing her citizenship test with flying colours." | "She had become a British subject after passing her citizenship test with flying colours." |
| The pair had been touring Thailand before the accident unfolded, as the boat made its way back to Koh Samui from Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park. | The pair had been touring Thailand before the accident unfolded, as the boat made its way back to Koh Samui from Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park. |
| Another Briton, Jason Parnell, also died in the accident. | Another Briton, Jason Parnell, also died in the accident. |
| "We had heard so may good things about the country from friends and family," Mr O'Connor continued. | "We had heard so may good things about the country from friends and family," Mr O'Connor continued. |
| The couple, who had been together for three-and-a-half years, met at accountancy firm Deloittes in Manchester, where Mrs O'Connor had risen to be a manager. | The couple, who had been together for three-and-a-half years, met at accountancy firm Deloittes in Manchester, where Mrs O'Connor had risen to be a manager. |
| They later married in the city. | They later married in the city. |
| "She was involved in training but always wanted to help people anyway," Mr O'Connor said. | "She was involved in training but always wanted to help people anyway," Mr O'Connor said. |
| Animals were Ms O'Connor's great passion, he said, especially the couple's Chow Chow dogs Jasper and Simba. She had even considered having their wedding at Chester Zoo. | |
| "She had always wanted to a zoo keeper but she didn't have the right degree." | "She had always wanted to a zoo keeper but she didn't have the right degree." |
| Mr O'Connor, who was too distressed to talk about the accident itself, recalled how delighted she was to visit Koh Samui's Elephant Hills jungle camp, an ethically-run sanctuary for elephants. | Mr O'Connor, who was too distressed to talk about the accident itself, recalled how delighted she was to visit Koh Samui's Elephant Hills jungle camp, an ethically-run sanctuary for elephants. |
| But he said she had also been "very upset" about the conditions at another animal reserve in the country. | But he said she had also been "very upset" about the conditions at another animal reserve in the country. |
| "She had written an email of complaint on my laptop which we were going to send when we returned home," he said. | "She had written an email of complaint on my laptop which we were going to send when we returned home," he said. |
| Her father-in-law, John O'Connor, said her love for animals had actually extended to the couple's wedding ceremony. | Her father-in-law, John O'Connor, said her love for animals had actually extended to the couple's wedding ceremony. |
| "She wanted one of her dogs to bring the ring up, I thought she was joking but it happened," he said. | "She wanted one of her dogs to bring the ring up, I thought she was joking but it happened," he said. |
| "She also said she wanted her normal blonde hair dyed the same colour as one of the dogs, and she showed a photo to her hairdresser." | "She also said she wanted her normal blonde hair dyed the same colour as one of the dogs, and she showed a photo to her hairdresser." |
| The boat was carrying 32 passengers and four crew when it capsized, although police said it was licensed to carry 45 passengers, so it was not overcrowded. | The boat was carrying 32 passengers and four crew when it capsized, although police said it was licensed to carry 45 passengers, so it was not overcrowded. |
| The sea was reportedly rough at the time of the accident, which occurred just 300 metres from the shore. | The sea was reportedly rough at the time of the accident, which occurred just 300 metres from the shore. |
| Seven people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. | Seven people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. |
| Mrs O'Connor's body was returned to Britain last week. | Mrs O'Connor's body was returned to Britain last week. |