In a startling incident, two British tourists engaged in a brawl with a gravely ill German visitor outside a Thai bar, allegedly after taunting him over the UK’s victories in both World Wars.
The altercation took place at The Godfather Bar in Pattaya, often referred to as ‘Sin City,’ where the British holidaymakers were reportedly drinking and boasting about their country’s historical military achievements. This led to an altercation with Marcello, 44, culminating in violence fueled by alcohol.
The quarrel escalated into a physical confrontation in the brightly lit nightlife area of Soi Buakhao at approximately 2 a.m. on Wednesday. The situation intensified when the intoxicated individuals began to physically assault the German tourist.
Video footage captured the moment the British men attacked Marcello, who was clad in a white shirt, as his girlfriend, May Srinateetundorn, 31, joined the fray dressed in a black sports bra and shorts.
The scuffle attracted onlookers until motorcycle taxi drivers intervened to help diffuse the tense situation. Law enforcement officers eventually arrived to restore order, but the British tourists reportedly made their escape before they could be apprehended.
Authorities from the Pattaya City Police Station mentioned that, as of today, no official complaints have been lodged regarding the incident.
Onlooker Laila, 32, said she was sitting nearby when she saw Marcello arguing with other customers inside the venue.
She said: ‘The two British men were drunk and then the German man started talking to them. But an argument started and it escalated into a brawl outside, where he was attacked by the two foreign men.
The holidaymakers (both pictured) were drinking at The Godfather Bar in Pattaya – also known as ‘Sin City’ – before boasting about ‘winning two World Wars’ and then allegedly attacking the German man
They allegedly hurled verbal abuse and called him a ‘little c***’ before the violence erupted in the neon-lit nightlife strip of Soi Buakhao
‘When bystanders tried to intervene, one of the men spat at his girlfriend’s face.’
Thai girlfriend May claimed the Brits attacked them as they were leaving the bar.
She recalled: ‘It happened just after midnight. I have a friend who works at the bar there, so my boyfriend and I went there for drinks.
‘My boyfriend, Marcello, is 44 and not very physically strong. He has an enlarged left side of his heart and fibrosis in his right lung, which makes him look thin and quite fragile.
‘He arrived in Pattaya on April 13. We have been together for three years, and he visits me twice a year. We have never experienced anything like this before.
‘While we were sitting in the bar, there were two young foreign men drinking there who were acting strangely, walking back and forth across the street holding beer bottles, with unfocused, yellowish eyes.
‘I suspected they might have been using drugs because I have seen similar behaviour before.
‘I told my boyfriend not to get involved, as Pattaya can be like this, and sometimes if you approach people with good intentions, they might misunderstand.
The German man’s Thai girlfriend May claimed the Brits (pictured) attacked them as they were leaving the bar
Officials said a probe into the incident has been launched
‘However, he still went to speak to them. They smiled in a way that made it clear they intended to confront him. I was worried about my boyfriend, so I stepped in to help.
‘As I was pulling him out of the bar, one of them ran in and punched him in the face. I asked them what they wanted, as we were already leaving. I was angry and fought back.’
May claimed the pair allegedly shouted insults about the Second World War and then threw objects and spat at her face, sparking the street brawl.
She added: ‘The police patrol arrived, but by then the men had already left. The officers told us to just let it go, but we could not accept that.
‘I asked the bar for CCTV footage to show how it started and what happened afterwards, especially when they spat at us, but the staff said the cameras were not working.
‘It would help if we could obtain CCTV footage from the bar so we can file a proper report.
‘My boyfriend’s belongings were also damaged. His phone is broken and no longer usable. His family became worried after seeing the news and contacted me.’
Officials said a probe into the incident has been launched.
Officers at the Pattaya City Police Station said today no formal complaints had been filed
Footage shows the intoxicated Brits kicking and pummelling the German
Tourists are regularly attacked or caught up in crime, leading Pattaya to be dubbed ‘Sin City’.
Embarrassed officials in the central government have launched tourism initiatives to attract families and rebrand Pattaya as a safe destination.
Authorities have also introduced safety measures, such as improved lighting and CCTV.
Despite some success in cleaning up the town’s image, alcohol and sex remain its biggest draws, often leading to a high rate of crime and accidents.
