A British dad was killed in a jet ski accident as his horrified partner watched on while holding their four-month-old baby, an inquest has heard.
Ali Watson, 28, was left critically injured after a “speeding” jet ski crashed into him in Dubai, Exeter Coroner’s Court was told.
The incident took place during an organised boat trip. The owner of the boat had hired two jet skis, one of which Ali had been riding, when the other ploughed into him.
Assistant coroner Luisa Nicholson concluded Ali died as a result of the accident, almost five years after the tragedy.
Ali, a marketing manager, emigrated to Dubai in 2020 after he attracted an investor for his own business. He was joined there by his partner Charlotte and their daughter Soulie.
But just weeks into his new life, the young dad was left suffering devastating injuries.
The inquest heard how Ali had previous experience riding jet skis. The other jet ski was being driven by an instructor with a female passenger on the back.
Just moments before the accident, the woman jumped off the jet ski because she was terrified by the speed the instructor was driving at.
On impact, Ali was hurled into the air and then crashed back down into the water.
His partner Charlotte saw it all unfold from the nearby boat while holding baby Soulie in her arms.
She told the court: “The last thing I said was ‘be safe, I love you’. 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.
“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.”
Ali suffered traumatic head injuries and blunt-force chest injuries, which were found to be the cause of his death five years later, a post mortem found.
Charlotte told the court how she struggled to keep going for their baby after she found out their life insurance policy wasn't active.
She said: “Me and my baby had literally nothing. When you lose someone unexpectedly, life stops. You still have to pay rent or mortgage and bills.
“They don't stop but you have stopped,”
The content creator now uses a Tik Tok account to raise awareness to help others become financially aware.
Two men were handed suspended sentences for causing death by mistake following the jet ski crash.
Ali's mum described her son as “devoted, loyal and loving”.
She said: “His untimely death has left us utterly heartbroken. Nothing will fill the hole in our lives that Ali’s passing has left us with.
“The world is unquestionably a poorer place without him in it.”
