Clubbers survive brutal beating in Phuket

CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: Two people have been hospitalized after a brutal attack in the early hours of Saturday.

Narissa Phokabut, 28, and her 30-year-old English friend, were leaving the Stereo Lab nightclub before dawn on Saturday when they were attacked by two Thai men.

Yards away, revelers were still partying at the Hed Kandi night, an event put on by the popular nightspot.

Miss Narissa said she was only fifty yards away from the steps of the nightclub when she was tackled from behind.

“One man tried to grab my purse, then punched me repeatedly in the head when I wouldn’t let go,” she said.

Her unnamed English friend ran to help but was hit from behind by a second assailant.

“My friend was hit repeatedly with a weapon, either a bottle or a small club,” she said.

After punching and kicking Miss Narissa while she was on the ground, her attacker began dragging her further away from the nightclub, deeper into the car park.

At the same time, another party goer, described by Miss Narissa as a large foreigner with blond hair, entered the car park from the stairs and raced over to help.

“He started shouting. There was a lot of movement and both the attackers ran away,” she said.

Miss Narissa is desperate to find the good Samaritan.

“Without him it would have been really bad. I want to find the man to thank him,” she said.

The man, who might also have useful information that would help catch the assailants, is being urged to contact Cherng Talay Police.

Although her recollection of the attack is hazy, Miss Narissa said the two men ran off in the direction of Surin.

After the attackers fled, Miss Narissa got to her feet and ran back into the nightclub for help. Her friend was still lying semi-conscious and bleeding in the car park.

Shocked at the sight of the bloodied woman, staff immediately called the police and an ambulance to the scene.

The two were taken to Thalang Hospital, where Miss Narissa was treated for bruising, multiple cuts and scrapes all over her body.

The injured English man suffered a cut on his head, which required 12 stitches, a dislocated shoulder and heavy bruising over his body.

Saddened by the incident, Miss Narissa said she wanted to warn people of Phuket, especially women, to be vigilant when going out at night.

Violent attacks like this happen all too often all over Phuket, she said.

It was not until Sunday afternoon that a police report was filed at Cherng Talay Police Station.

A police source who refused to be named said, “right now we don’t have enough officers to look for the suspects…The Asean meetings are using most of our resources.”

The heightened police presence in Surin and Bang Tao has done nothing to stop crime for local residents, said Narissa.

She is appealing to anyone who has information to contact Cherng Talay Police Station by calling 076- 324086.

— Fraser Morton