A foreign man used a metal bar to chase and attack a Thai man during a confrontation in Phuket, before later being pursued by the man carrying a sword and suffering injuries. The incident, reported online on 15 June, attracted widespread attention online and prompted calls for authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the clash.
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The altercation took place in Soi Ta-iad, Chalong, in Phuket’s Mueang district. According to reports and witness accounts, the dispute began when 50-year-old Muay Thai instructor Waikun, who was waiting for his sister, encountered two foreign tourists riding motorcycles in a manner he believed was taking up too much of the road.
Waikun said he warned the riders about road use, which led to a verbal argument. During the confrontation, a large foreign man allegedly punched him several times in the face and left eye, causing injuries.
According to Waikun, he later returned to his home and retrieved a sword for self-defence because he feared further attacks. He stated that he had no intention of attacking the foreign man first.
The situation escalated when the foreign man returned to the scene on a motorcycle carrying a long metal pipe. During the ensuing confrontation, the tip of the sword carried by Waikun reportedly struck the foreign man’s arm, causing a deep cut.
Video footage shared by the Facebook page Phuket Times Phuket Time showed part of the confrontation and quickly spread across social media. The page claimed the foreign man had also threatened other Thai individuals with the bar before being chased by a sword-wielding Thai man.
The footage generated extensive online debate, with many users calling for authorities to establish the full sequence of events and determine whether any criminal offences had been committed. Some comments criticised what they described as disrespectful behaviour by visitors towards local people and places.
Pictures courtesy of Daily News
Waikun was later diagnosed with a fractured eye socket, blurred vision and pain around his left eye and jaw. He filed a police report and provided video evidence recorded by witnesses to investigators.
Police had to intervene to stop the confrontation and took both men to hospital for treatment, while officers seized the weapons involved and continued gathering evidence.
The Daily News reported that authorities have not released details about the foreign man’s identity and it remains unclear whether any counter-complaint has been filed. Police are examining witness statements and video footage as part of their investigation and are expected to determine whether further legal action will follow.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 16 June 2026