Melee in Chalong rice soup shop

CHALONG, PHUKET: A man smashed a stranger over the head with a bottle, sparking a brawl at a Phuket khao tom (rice soup) restaurant in the early morning hours on Saturday.

Worakrit Wisutthitham, 40, lost a lot of blood and needed eight stitches to his head at Vachira Phuket Hospital following the attack.

Mr Worakrit was eating with two friends at the Toh Roong khao tom shop at the entrance to Soi Thanoothep, off Chao Fah East Road in Chalong at the time of the attack.

At around 1.30am, Mr Worakrit noticed two men at an adjacent table paying their bill and getting up to leave.

As they walked out, one of the men picked up a bottle.

Without saying a word, the man smashed it hard over Mr Worakrit’s head.

Mr Worakrit collapsed in a heap on the floor as his two friends started punching the assailant.

The attacker and his companion ran out of the shop and fled in a Toyota Fortuner in the direction of Chalong Intersection.

When Chalong Police arrived at the shop accompanied by officers from the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization tourist assistance center, they found a bloodied Mr Worakrit surrounded by overturned tables and chairs.

Officers performed first aid on Mr Worakrit and sent him to Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment.

Mr Workakrit told police had no idea why he had been attacked.

The victim said he had not fallen out with anyone recently and had not argued with the man before he was assaulted.

In Thailand, unprovoked confrontations in khao tom restaurants are not uncommon as they tend to serve as late-night gathering spots for people who have been out drinking.

Police continue to search for the attacker and his companion.

— Gazette reporter