A British tourist was wounded by a sword-wielding martial arts instructor in Phuket after an alleged road rage incident spiralled into a violent confrontation in the early hours of the morning, with footage of the dramatic attack circulating widely online.
The incident took place at around 11.30pm on 13 June on the Thai resort island, after the British man reportedly became involved in an altercation with a motorcyclist before going on a rampage through the local area, yelling at residents and allegedly threatening people with an iron pipe. The confrontation ultimately brought him face to face with Waikoon Promsuwan, 50, a Muay Thai and sword-fighting instructor who stepped in when the tourist reached his home.
Chaotic footage of the encounter shows the shirtless British man holding an iron pipe and taunting Waikoon with obscene language. Waikoon then charged at him with a knife, slashing his arm. The tourist was subsequently filmed walking away with his arm visibly covered in blood. He later returned to the UK for further treatment, according to the Daily Mail.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Kanen Somrak of Chalong Police Station said no official complaint had yet been filed and that authorities were attempting to contact the British man through diplomatic channels to obtain his account of events. “It is impossible to say who started the fight yet because we have not heard the British man’s version,” he said.
Waikoon said he regretted the attack but insisted he had acted to protect his family. “I feel terrible for hurting someone, but on the other hand, I’m proud and happy to be a voice for Thai people,” he said. “We are not afraid if you come at us with bad intentions, but be aware that your actions can also negatively impact other tourists.”
The incident is the latest in a series of violent confrontations involving British tourists in Thailand. Last month, a British man and his girlfriend were attacked by staff outside a 7-Eleven in the coastal resort of Pattaya on 24 May after being accused of trying to leave the store without paying for two energy drinks. Footage showed staff kicking the tourist’s motorbike and grabbing hold of him, sparking a brawl in the car park.
Phuket remains one of the world’s most visited holiday destinations, drawing millions of tourists each year to its beaches and nightlife. But the rapid growth in visitor numbers has brought a surge in tensions between tourists and local communities, with many residents expressing increasing concern about the behaviour of some holidaymakers and the broader social costs of mass tourism.
