A 30-year-old British man has tragically died after taking part in his first Muay Thai fight while visiting Thailand. The man collapsed following a bout at the Samui Inter Boxing Stadium on the island of Koh Samui on Friday night.
Collapsed After Brutal Kicks to the Ribs
The fight, scheduled for five rounds, began at around 9.30pm local time. The British man, whose name has not yet been made public, faced an opponent named only as ‘Superlek’.
In the first round, the British fighter managed to knock his opponent to the canvas, prompting a count from the referee. However, in the third round, he was struck with ten powerful kicks to his ribs and collapsed. The referee halted the match immediately due to his injuries.
Initial Signs Seemed Hopeful
Despite the violent end to the fight, reports say the man was able to walk out of the ring unaided and removed his gloves by himself. But while removing his hand wraps, he began to tense up, struggled to breathe, and appeared to lose focus.
He was brought to the front of the stage, still conscious at that time, but just minutes later he lost consciousness and his heart stopped.
CPR Attempted for Over an Hour
The man was taken to Thai International Hospital, where doctors performed CPR for approximately an hour. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced dead at 11:00pm.
Authorities have confirmed that the man’s body has been sent to Surat Thani Hospital for a full autopsy. The British Embassy in Thailand has been informed, and the Foreign Office is expected to release more details in due course.
Popular but Dangerous Tourist Activity
Muay Thai, a traditional and often brutal Thai combat sport, is popular with tourists in the country. Matches frequently involve full-contact strikes using fists, elbows, knees, and shins.
Many foreigners travel to Thailand specifically to train and compete in the sport, with stadium fights marketed as entertainment and tickets often sold for around £35. While matches like these are common, this incident highlights the serious risks involved — especially for unseasoned fighters.
Police have launched a formal investigation, and further details are expected to be released following the autopsy.
