A British father was killed in a jetski crash as his partner watched on helplessly with their baby in her arms, an inquest has heard.
Ali Watson, 28, Charlotte and their newborn daughter Soulie had moved from the UK to Dubai for a ‘better life’ in September 2020.
The couple were really starting to settle in when Ali, who was a marketing manager, organised they head on a boat trip on December 6, 2020.
But, tragically, Ali died that day.
An inquest at Exeter Coroner’s Court today heard how the dad was riding a jetski when another ploughed into him.
The second watercraft was being driven at a high speed by an instructor with a female passenger – but she had jumped off moments before the crash due to being frightened by the speed, the coroner was told.
Ali, from Coventry, was thrown into the air and landed face down in the water.
He died at the scene from blunt force chest wounds.
Ali Watson died in a jetski crash in Dubai in 2020. His partner Charlotte Lescott, pictured with their daughter Soulie, watched on as the tragedy unfolded
The couple had moved from Britain to the United Arab Emirates weeks earlier
Charlotte’s heartbreaking final words to her husband were ‘be safe, I love you’.
The assistant Devon coroner Luisa Nicholson said Ali died as a result of an accident. It was heard that he had previous experience of riding jetskis and the ones used that day had been hired by the boat trip organisers.
The inquest heard that suspended jail sentences and fines were handed out to those responsible for the crash.
The family had moved to Dubai in September 2020 to have a ‘better quality of life’.
Charlotte, a content creator, from Birmingham said: ‘We went on a boat with a bunch of friends.
‘He was out in the water on a jetski 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.’
The family had moved to Dubai to have a ‘better quality of life’ and Ali had set up his own business
The couple were on a boat trip with friends on December 6, 2020, when Ali was involved in a crash
Charlotte said she struggled to keep going for Soulie when she found out their life insurance policy wasn’t active
Charlotte and Ali met on Depop in 2018 when he messaged her after she bought some trainers off him.
The pair hit it off and moved in together three months later.
It was December 2019 when they found out they were expecting a baby together. The couple were over the moon – and then wee Soulie arrived on July 29, 2020.
Due to the restrictions in place in the UK the family decided to try out Dubai in September.
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.’
But Charlotte’s world came crashing down just weeks later.
She 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.
‘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.’
She said she struggled to keep going for Soulie when she found out their life insurance policy wasn’t active.
The couple were over the moon when they found out they were pregnant
Soulie was born in July. Her dad died just months later
Now she raises awareness to make sure others are financially aware and to keep Ali’s memory alive.
She said: ‘It had been cancelled. We had a lot of stuff in a shipment. A lot of Soulie’s clothes, the cot.
‘I couldn’t get it released to me because it was in Ali’s name.
‘Me and my baby had literally nothing. When you lose someone unexpectantly, life stops. You still have to pay rent or mortgage and bills.
‘They don’t stop but you have stopped.’
Now Charlotte is in a better place and has an open conversation with Soulie about her dad.
She said: ‘If I didn’t have her I would be lost. I had to carry on because she was a new born. Soulie is very aware of her dad. She’s 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.’
Charlotte did have family and friends to support her when she was back in the UK but felt embarrassed to ask for help sometimes.
She said: ‘I was embarrassed to ask family. I didn’t want to say “can you help me financially?” You don’t want to think about paying the bills.
‘I didn’t take ownership of my finances.’
Charlotte now wants to make sure others are not relying on their partners financially and have life insurance in place.
She said: ‘Be aware of it for yourself. Don’t just rely on him.’
