Police on Phi Phi arrested Austrian national David Robert Herbst last night (Dec 19) following an intensive investigation.
Officers presented a warrant for Herbst’s arrest, marking that he was wanted for charges of reckless driving causing death.
In a detailed report, police explained that the tragic incident happened on Tuesday evening.
The victim, Russian national Kirill Golovachev, 58, was seen walking along the southern end of the Karon beach road just before 5:30pm, on his way to the beach. His body was later found by a fisherman near rocks in the area.
Through CCTV footage police confirmed that Mr Golovachev was swimming at the southern end of the beach, and confirmed that he was struck by a jet-ski driven by Herbst at 6:17pm.
Herbst continued to operate the jet-ski after the incident, and later left the scene.
Investigators traced the jet-ski driver to Herbst, who had reportedly fled to Koh Phi Phi following the accident.
Police gathered sufficient evidence to secure, and execute, the arrest warrant.
Herbst has denied the charges and was brought back to Karon Police Station in Phuket for further questioning.