A Canadian Christian missionary was killed instantly after being hit by a pick-up truck while cycling in Thailand this morning.

Tragic Marine Scott, 49, was riding with husband Joe, 50, on a wedding anniversary trip when the vehicle smashed into her in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand.

The experienced cyclist - who had competed in dozens of events and was wearing a helmet - was killed instantly this morning shortly before 7.30 am. Gruesome pictures show her arm and leg were ripped from her body.

Devastated husband Joe collapsed in tears on the roadside as police and paramedics comforted him.

Writing online, he later paid tribute to Marine. He said his wife was ‘hit by a car while crossing the road on her bicycle'.

Joe added: ‘This woman was my everything.'

Family friend Cindy Seaton Henson said: ‘Everyone knew you loved Marnie to the moon and back.'

Joe and Marine had been working for more than a decade in northern Thailand close to Myanmar, where they carried out missionary work for the Christian Freedom International in Front Royal, Vancouver. Their work focused on helping Christians persecuted.

The married couple left their home in Mae Sot for a cycling trip in Kanchanaburi Province. They celebrated their wedding anniversary on June 15. The night before the accident, Marine had posted pictures from their river raft.

Marine's social media account shows she was an experienced cyclist having competed in a number of events around Thailand and was familiar with the country's roads.

However, police said they received an emergency call at around 7:30am local time informing them that a tourist had been ‘killed by car'.

Police Captain Chairat Jananan, Deputy Inspector of Investigation at the Muang Kanchanaburi Police Station, travelled to the scene.

The policeman said Joe was crying on the roadside.

Police Captain Chairat added: ‘On the left side of the road, the body of the deceased was found, a foreign woman lying on her back.

‘Nearby, the bike of the deceased was also found, which had been smashed up and overturned.

‘Joseph Micheal Scott, 50, a Canadian, was sat crying next to the dead body. The deceased was his wife.'

Police said that Joe and Marine had cycled out onto the road from the driveway at the resort where they were staying. Joe was in front of Marine and crossed the road first.

Marine pushed off from the junction and was cycling over to the middle u-turn point to reach the other side when a grey Isuzu pick-up truck crashed into her.

The driver Chaiyawat Choto, 23, told police at the roadside that he was retiring from running errands when he saw Marine crossing the road.

He said: ‘I saw the foreign man first reach the other side of then road then I saw a foreign woman on a bicycle. I was driving at high speed and honked the horn to warn her but she still moved off the roadside.'

Officers held Chaiwat in custody at the Muang Kanchanaburi Provincial Police Station to be interviewed.

Police Captain Chairat added: ‘We have further questions to ask the suspect before any allegations are filed against him. We have to also check cameras and evidence from the scene.'

Police said that the Canadian Embassy had been informed of the death and would be assisting Joe.