Pattaya-
A young British tourist was seriously injured after being stabbed in the leg by a Thai man after a prior verbal and physical altercation with the suspect inside a convenience store in Jomtien, Pattaya, early on February 13th, 2026.
The incident occurred around 1:06 a.m. at a famous convenience store branch on Jomtien Beach Road.Police from Pattaya City Police Station, led by Deputy Inspector Pol Lt Col Jittisuk Suthenitatwong, responded to reports of a severe assault with a victim bleeding heavily. Volunteer rescuers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya also rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival, officers found the victim, identified by police as Mr. Daniel, a 22-year-old British national, collapsed in a pool of blood next to a store shelf. He had suffered a deep stab wound to his left thigh from a sharp object. First aid was administered immediately before he was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. A shirtless foreign associate of the injured man was seen discussing the situation with police and rescue workers in an emotional state but his name or relationship was not released by law enforcement and he did not speak to the media.
The suspect, a 23-year-old Thai man named Natthawat Chandthong, was quickly apprehended at the scene by police and good Samaritans. Authorities recovered two knives, a fruit-peeling knife and a kitchen knife, discarded in a trash bin inside the store, believed to be the weapons used in the attack.
In his initial statement to police, Natthawat claimed the altercation began when the British tourist had earlier randomly approached him and then persistently followed and pressured him to sell ketamine, an illegal narcotic substance. He said he repeatedly refused, stating that selling drugs is against the law, which led to a heated argument.According to the suspect, the tourist then assaulted him, causing him to lose a tooth. Enraged, Natthawat allegedly chased the man into the convenience store and stabbed him in the leg in retaliation.
Police have detained Natthawat and seized the knives as evidence. However, investigators stated they are not fully accepting the suspect’s account at this stage as they stated it seemed implausible. They will await the victim’s recovery and his formal statement to investigators before proceeding with charges under due legal process, as well as speaking further with any friends or associates of the victim.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities gather further evidence, including any available CCTV footage from the store and witness accounts, to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
