Foreign tourists brawl in Patong over dispute involving woman

2026-03-19 - 04:10

PHUKET — 19 March 2026, Two foreign tourists believed to be friends were involved in a late-night brawl near the entrance of Soi Bangla in Patong, allegedly over a dispute involving a woman, police said. The incident occurred at around 02:40 on Thursday along Thaweewong Road in tambon Patong, Kathu district. A video of the altercation was shared on Facebook by a user identified as Apichat Phanchalad, showing the men fighting before one collapsed and lay motionless on the ground. According to the witness, the pair had been travelling together and began arguing inside Soi Bangla before the confrontation escalated into a physical fight. Bystanders attempted to intervene, but the two continued until one of them fell. Police were alerted and arrived at the scene to find an injured foreign man, later identified as an Australian tourist, lying on the ground. Pol. Col. Korakrit Khankhrea, superintendent of Patong Police Station, said the injured man told officers he had argued and fought with his friend over a woman. The other man fled the scene before police arrived. Rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation provided first aid before transporting the injured tourist to Patong Hospital for further treatment. Police have advised the victim to file a formal complaint to proceed with legal action.