A swaggering tourist who challenged a bouncer to a fight outside a bar in Thailand was taught a humiliating lesson when he was knocked to the ground with a single punch, dramatic video shows.
The drunk holidaymaker had allegedly been causing trouble on the notorious strip of sex bars in Pattaya, Thailand, during Thai New Year’s celebrations.
The foreign tourist allegedly harassed a female staff member and at one point poured beer over a bouncer’s head, according to local media.
He was removed from one bar, but instead of walking away, he took off his shirt and beckoned over a security guard.
The cocky tourist, who appeared to be speaking English, gathered a crowd and hyped up onlookers as he challenged the man to a fight.
He repeatedly taunted his opponent, squaring up to him as the crowd jeered and booed.
Little did he know, his opponent was skilled in Thai boxing, and after being held back by other locals decided to accept the man’s challenge.
He knocked the man off his feet with one swing before kicking him on the ground, the footage shows.
Then other guards and several women, seemingly workers at the bar, also descended on the man, beating him as he tried to get back up.
The cocky tourist appears to taunt one of the guards in the video before the brawl broke out
Locals attempted to diffuse the situation as the man, who appeared to be with a friend, squared up to the staff member
The tourist is said to have poured beer over one of the bouncers’ heads
The man squared up to one of the bouncers and reportedly challenged him to a Thai boxing fight
The foreign tourist was taken down with a single punch as huge crowds watched on
The chaotic brawl was eventually broken up, and the humiliated holidaymaker reportedly had to walk back to his hotel.
Onlooker Nick Rizal, who watched the fight unfold on the city’s Soi 6 during Songkran celebrations on April 14, said the tourist ‘had it coming’.
He added: ‘The guy had been annoying one of the girls in the bar. Then he was just being annoying and causing trouble with his arrogance.
‘The security guards were quite restrained and encouraged him to leave. But it’s a bad idea to challenge one to a fight. For the Thai guy, it then became a matter of protecting his own honour rather than work.
‘I have to say, the tourist had it coming and he had exactly what he deserved.’
Pattaya City Police summoned two guards, a bar manager and a female employee for questioning after the video went viral online.
The guards, named locally as Non, 36, and Nik, 37, admitted to being in the clip and said they had reacted after escorting the drunk tourist out of the bar.
They said they had tried to calm the situation before one of them reacted, and reportedly expressed regret that they did not exercise restraint.
‘We initially tried to escort him out of the premises,’ one of the guards told Thai media.
‘The manager even attempted to calm him down, but he refused to listen and continued to provoke other tourists.’
After the punch knocked him to the ground the dazed man was kicked by the bouncer
Shocked crowds watched on as the man helplessly took the beating
A number of onlookers jumped in to attack the man and the fight erupted into a full-blown brawl
The bouncers reportedly apologised to the public but asked for people to take into consideration the man’s provocative actions.
Authorities will be keen to avoid any more unwanted attention for the coastal town, which is struggling to shake off its lawless reputation.
Tourists are regularly attacked or caught up in crime, leading Pattaya to be dubbed ‘Sin City’.
Embarrassed officials in the central government have launched tourism initiatives to attract families and rebrand Pattaya as a safe destination.
Authorities have introduced safety measures, such as improved lighting and CCTV. Music festivals targeting young locals have also been staged on the beach.
A tram system and cruise ship terminal have also been proposed, along with schemes to lure in ‘high value’ visitors.
The city’s Soi 6 road – the scene of the fight – has drawn attention, with a number of police raids on bars and regular patrols.
