Wheely reckless: Aussie tourist pops stunts on Phuket streets
A thrill-seeking Aussie tourist landed himself in hot water after being caught on camera pulling dangerous wheelies down a busy Phuket road, prompting furious locals to demand action.
The 32 year old Australian man has been arrested after a viral clip showed him performing motorcycle stunts along Witsanu Road in Rawai, causing mayhem and putting lives at risk.
The reckless joyride, which took place late on Sunday, April 27, saw the tourist, identified as Mr Daherwalid, zipping down the road on a black-and-red Honda Click 160, popping wheelies and weaving through traffic with zero concern for safety. The stunt, filmed around 11.50pm, was widely shared on social media, sparking outrage from residents.
“He was having the time of his life, but no one else was,” said a local witness. “It’s dangerous and disrespectful.”
By last night, officers from Chalong Police Station had tracked down the man, thanks to a coordinated effort between patrol, investigation, and traffic units. The bike’s owner was also brought in to assist authorities, and the suspect was taken to the station for questioning, Amarin TV reported.
Police have since impounded the motorcycle and confirmed that Mr Daherwalid is now facing prosecution for “driving without regard to the safety or inconvenience of others, and driving recklessly or dangerously without regard to the safety of persons or property.”
Police say the case serves as a reminder that foreign nationals are not above the law while visiting Thailand.
“Tourists are welcome but stunts like these are not,” said an officer from Chalong Police Station. “We take public safety very seriously.”
Late last year, a viral video of an Israeli man recklessly riding a motorbike on Kamala Beach in the Kathu district of Phuket led to him receiving a 5,000-baht fine.
The video of the Israeli motorcyclist was shared by a witness in a chat group on both LINE and Facebook. The witness captioned it, “Kamala Beach Racing!” The footage showed the back wheel of the motorcycle stuck in the sand.
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