The victim, Wayne Marks, 43, from New South Wales, was in Monster’s Bar in Khao Lock in the early hours of Thursday morning when the fracas erupted. According to witness reports, Chanin Innarong, 30, pulled up at the bar on his motorbike and confronted a woman who was set with Mr Marks and his friends. Innarong demanded she take off her top and give it to him, claiming it belonged to his girlfriend, and that the woman, Kamonthip Nambut, had failed to pay for it.
Ms Nambut refused to take off the top, but promised to give it to him later.
At this point a scuffle took place, with Mr Marks intervening to defend her and Innagong tried to snatch it off her.
Police claim Chanin then turned on Mr Marks, producing a six-inch long knife with which he stabbed him repeatedly.
The Phuket News reported Major Charan Srisarak of Khao Lak Police Station as saying Mr Marks had been stabbed a total of 12 times.
Maj Charan said: “Chanin demanded that the woman take off her T-shirt and give it to him as the T-shirt belonged to his girlfriend and she had not paid for it.
“As Chanin was subdued, he pulled out a knife and stabbed Mr Marks 12 times before fleeing on the motorbike.’
Police arrived at about 1am to find Mr Marks lying on the cement.
He had suffered stab wounds to his waist, shoulder and back and was taken to Takua Pa Hospital hospital in a critical condition.
A medical team managed to stabilised him and he was able to speak with nurses today.
Police arrested the alleged knifeman at a nightclub, at which point he was reportedly charged with attempted murder.