A British father-of-one died after a jet ski crashed into him while his partner and baby watched, an inquest has heard.
Ali Watson, 28, had arranged a boat trip for his girlfriend, Charlotte Lescott, and their newborn daughter Soulie in Dubai in December 2020 when the accident occurred.
The family had moved from the UK to the Emirati city four months earlier for a 'better life', and had begun settling into their new home when the tragedy took place.
During the inquest at Exeter Coroner's Court, the coroner heard how Ali was hit by a jet ski instructor who was 'riding fast', the Daily Mail reported.
The instructor had a female passenger – but she had jumped off moments before the crash due to being scared by the high speed, the coroner was told.
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Ali, a marketing manager from Coventry, was thrown into the air and landed face down in the water.
He died at the scene from blunt force chest wounds. Charlotte, who is from Birmingham, said: 'We went on a boat with a bunch of friends.'
'He was out in the water on a jet ski and the instructor collided with him.'
'I was holding the baby on the boat and witnessed it.'
'The last thing I said was "be safe, I love you".'
'My world stopped spinning the moment Ali died. I couldn't function. The world around you is still carrying on.'
Assistant coroner for Devon Luisa Nicholson said Ali died as a result of an accident. It was heard that he had previous experience of riding jet skis and the ones used that day had been hired by the boat trip organizers.
The inquest heard that suspended jail sentences and fines were given to those responsible for the crash.
Charlotte said: 'Even when I saw the crash I didn't think the worst.'
'I thought he'd have a broken leg. Death doesn't go through your mind.'
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'When my friend said Char you need to sit down – I knew what she was going to say. I just felt my whole world had collapsed.'
'I just remember screaming at the top of my lungs.'
The couple met on Depop in 2018 when he messaged her after she bought some trainers from him.
They started dating and moved in together three months later.
In December 2019 they found out they were expecting a baby together, and Soulie was born in July 2020.
After the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, the family decided to move to Dubai as they found the restrictions in the UK too difficult.
Charlotte said: 'He really wasn't happy in the UK. There was no quality of life. We ended up building a life there.'
'It was just nice. We had a better quality of life. We could take Soulie swimming. I felt life was complete.'
Charlotte says that five years later, she is continuing to raise the couple's daughter and talks about him often to her.
'If I didn't have her I would be lost,' she said. 'I had to carry on because she was a newborn. Soulie is very aware of her dad. She dreams of him. She's got his eyes. She's very fragile, sensitive, and very kind.'
'She's such a ray of sunshine. I just want to protect her at all costs.'
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