Jerome Pradalier, 29, a technician, was with two colleagues when the incident occurred on the ferry heading to Gulangyu, a scenic island in Xiamen city, Xinhua news agency said.

Police said they arrested Yang Qinghua, 26, an unemployed resident of neighbouring Jiangxi province. He tried to jump off the boat to flee the scene but was seized by police, Xinhua said.

Yang has confessed to the offence, but police are still investigating his motives, the report said.

Praladier and his two colleagues were employed by a local firm, it said.