Pattaya punch-up: Ex-US soldier seeks answers as Thai man delivers unexpected blow

A former US soldier sought help from locals in Pattaya after a Thai man punched him in the face. The victim was unaware of the motive for the attack.

Mueang Pattaya Police Station officers and rescue team rushed to the Pattaya Sai Song Road near Soi Pattaya 13 after a Thai woman, 44 year old Nattanan, notified them about the injured foreign man, who was later identified as a former US soldier, Demetri.

According to the officers, the 53 year old’s face and shirt were covered in blood. He was using tissue paper to absorb the blood that kept coming out of his nose. Rescuers gave him first aid before taking him to Mueang Pattaya Hospital. The doctor later revealed that Demetri had a broken nose.

The Thai woman, Nattanan, recounted the situation she witnessed to the police. She explained that she was in her massage shop in front of Soi Pattaya 13, and her employees asked her to check on the foreign man who came to the shop for help.

Nattanan stated that she saw the man lose a lot of blood and immediately reported the matter to the police and rescue team. While waiting, she talked to the foreigner and learned that he had been attacked by a Thai man.

According to Demetri, the Thai man punched him once in the face and fled the scene. He did not know the attacker’s motive as he had never had a conflict with Thais before and was visiting Pattaya for the first time.

Nattanan stated that she and her employees did not see anyone suspicious in the area. She did not ask Demetri where the incident occurred.

Mueang Pattaya Police Station would review the security cameras along the road to see where the attack took place and who the assailant was.

A similar incident was reported in Pattaya on November 9, when a 23 year old Russian woman was punched in the face by two Thai men. The men then grabbed her mobile phone and escaped from the scene on their motorcycle.

A Thai security guard helped report the theft to the police but the update on the arrest of the two thieves was not reported to the public.