A Russian father has been jailed for killing his son, 13, by throwing him off a tourist boat in Thailand. The boy, Lucas Bugorskiy, was mangled by the propellers suffering fatal head and facial wounds.

More than 30 tourists watched in horror as Artem Bugorskiy, 45, lifted the child by the legs and threw him into the sea. A court found he had deliberately hurled him onto the propellers following an argument between the pair near popular Koh Ra in the Surinam Islands, according to reports.

A Thai court jailed the father for 12 years for killing the boy.

The boat’s captain “observed Bugorskiy leave his seat, walk towards his son, Lucas, and use both hands to grab the boy by the legs and torso,” reported The Nation.

He then the boy off the vessel

“Following this, Bugorskiy jumped into the water after him.”

The captain pulled the grievously wounded boy out of the water and he was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Reports said Bugorskiy had changed after his Thai wife, the boy’s mother, demanded a divorce and he had lost his job.

He was detained in the wake of the boy’s death and charged with “intentional murder”.

Confronted by a Thai TV crew, he denied killing his son.

The Russian said in English: “Who kill my son? I kill? I don't kill!”