An elephant handler has been charged in connection with the tragedy that led to the death of Gareth Crowe in Thailand.

Mr Crowe was killed and his step-daughter Eilidh Hughes, 16, injured when a male elephant named Golf threw them of its back during a trek on the tourist island of Koh Samui last Sunday.

The handler, also known as a mahout, is due to face prosecution procedures at Koh Samui Provincial Court later today, according to Thai press reports.

Police claim the accident came about as a result of the mahout's "inattentiveness".

Their investigation included looking at images taken from Mr Crowe's camera which, according to Provincial Police Station director Pol Col Thewet Pluemsut, show the 37-year-old handler Saw Win Tun, a Myanmar (Burma) national working in Thailand, had climbed from the elephant’s neck to take photos for the tourists.

The Gazette:

According to local police, Mr Tun said the elephant attacked when he was helping both tourists with photography. The say the handler believes the flash from the camera may have caused the elephant to attack.

It was also reported that the elephant was being teased with a banana but that claim was strenousily denied by Eilidh who has since paid tribute to her step-dad.

The Linwood teenager told pals on social media she was "on the road to recovery".

Miss Hughes, who managed to escape with minor injuries, was treated in hospital on the island. Her mother Catherine Hughes and brother Mark were also on the holiday but did not go on the trek, which was organised by Island Safari Tour Co.

Responding to friends and family on Facebook, the 16-year-old wrote: "I'm on the road to recovery so should be home soon."

One friend wrote: "Can't believe you go on a holiday of a lifetime and such a horrid thing happens. You need to be strong for your mum."

Miss Hughes replied: "I'm trying but it's so hard."

She said her mum and brother are "both very upset", adding that Mr Crowe "just didn't deserve this at all".

Meanwhile, friends of Mr Crowe, who is originally from Dunoon, have raised thousands of pounds to help the family in their hour of need.

They set up a crowdfunding page in his name and have raised more than £9,000 to help bring him home and give him "a good send off".