A British father was killed in a horrific jet ski collision in Dubai, an inquest has heard, with his partner and their newborn baby forced to watch the tragedy unfold.
A Dream Life in Dubai Shattered
Ali Watson, a 28-year-old marketing manager from Coventry, had organised a boat trip for his girlfriend, Charlotte Lescott, and their infant daughter, Soulie, in December 2020. The family had relocated from the UK to Dubai just four months earlier, seeking a 'better life' and had begun to happily settle into their new home.
The outing turned to catastrophe when an instructor on another jet ski, who was reportedly 'riding fast', ploughed into Ali. The inquest at Exeter Coroner's Court heard that a female passenger on the instructor's jet ski had jumped off moments before the impact because she was frightened by the high speed.
The Tragic Collision and Its Aftermath
Charlotte, who is from Birmingham, was holding their baby on the boat when she witnessed the crash. Ali was thrown into the air by the force of the impact and landed face down in the water. He died at the scene from blunt force chest wounds.
"The last thing I said was 'be safe, I love you'," Charlotte recounted. "My world stopped spinning the moment Ali died. I couldn't function. The world around you is still carrying on." She described initially thinking he might have only suffered a broken leg, with the possibility of death not crossing her mind until a friend told her to sit down.
"I just remember screaming at the top of my lungs," she said.
Legacy of a Life Cut Short
The couple's relationship began in 2018 after they met on Depop, when Ali messaged Charlotte following her purchase of some trainers from him. They moved in together after three months of dating and discovered they were expecting a child in December 2019. Their daughter, Soulie, was born in July 2020.
The family's decision to move to Dubai was influenced by the tough Covid-19 restrictions in the UK. "He really wasn't happy in the UK. There was no quality of life," Charlotte explained. "We ended up building a life there. It was just nice. We had a better quality of life."
Assistant coroner for Devon, Luisa Nicholson, concluded that Ali died as a result of an accident. The inquest was told that suspended jail sentences and fines were given to those responsible for the crash.
Five years on, Charlotte is raising their daughter and ensures Soulie knows about her father. "Soulie is very aware of her dad. She dreams of him. She's got his eyes," Charlotte said. "She's such a ray of sunshine. I just want to protect her at all costs."
