Two British tourists found themselves at the center of a heated altercation with locals in Pattaya, Thailand, after an incident involving a food delivery driver.
The incident, which occurred yesterday afternoon in the coastal city often referred to as “Sin City,” began when the tourists allegedly clipped a 44-year-old food delivery driver. According to witnesses, the situation escalated when the two visitors threw a bag of rubbish at the wheels of the driver’s bike, triggering a confrontation outside a 7-Eleven store.
Video footage shows the British men squaring off against the Thai rider while a woman desperately attempted to intervene as the situation turned physical. As the confrontation intensified, additional locals joined the fray, forcing the tourists to retreat into the supermarket for safety.
Police quickly arrived at the scene, with one of the British men seen pleading for officers to “take him” while pointing to one of the Thai men involved. The chaotic scene caused terrified staff to flee the store.
All parties involved were detained at the Pattaya City Police Station where authorities mediated the dispute. The British tourists have since paid the driver approximately $418 in compensation.
A police spokesman stated: “The police were able to control the situation in time before taking the two foreigners and those involved to Pattaya City Police Station to proceed with legal action. The foreigners admitted their guilt in the fight and paid the rider 15,000 baht in compensation before going their separate ways.”
This incident comes as Pattaya authorities continue efforts to improve the city’s reputation. The former fishing village, which first became popular with American troops on ‘rest and relaxation’ breaks in the 1950s and 1960s during conflicts in Vietnam and Cambodia, has struggled with its image.
Local officials have implemented various safety measures, including improved lighting and CCTV, while also organizing music festivals and proposing infrastructure developments like a tram system and cruise ship terminal to attract a broader range of visitors.
