Sword attack nets cellphone, 200 baht

RASSADA, PHUKET: A man is recovering in hospital after surviving a vicious sword attack by two robbers near the entrance to the Fish Marketing Organization pier last night.

Phuket City Police Duty Officer Warit Jado identified the victim as 39-year-old Somsak Krongyuti, a resident of Kantang district in Trang.

A crew member of the fishing boat Hong 7, Mr Somsak had disembarked from the vessel docked at the pier and was looking for a place to have a drink when he was attacked.

Shortly before 9 pm, two men rode up on a motorcycle at high speed, then stopped nearby, he told police.

He described both men as being around 22 years old, 160-170cm in height and dark-skinned.

They demanded his valuables, but he refused and a fight ensued, he said.

One of the men pulled out a Sparta sword about half a meter long and started hacking him with it until he collapsed, he said.

The two men then made off with his cellphone and 200 baht in cash.

When Pol Lt Col Warit arrived at the scene, he found around 30 boat crew members crowded around Mr Somsak’s body. The victim had deep wounds in his neck and both arms.

Rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation administered first-aid and rushed him to Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment. He is now in stable condition.

Police are investigating but have yet to identify any suspects in the case.

The area around the Fish Marketing Organization pier has been the site of numerous violent attacks and unsolved murders in recent years.

Many of the victims are never identified, but presumed to have been Burmese working as crew on the fishing boats.