A 50-year-old man, identified as Jarint or “Uncle Rin,” has filed a complaint, alleging that he was assaulted by a volunteer rescuer in Pattaya on the night of October 17. The incident reportedly occurred outside the Phonphimon Village in Naklua, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province, with security camera footage capturing the altercation.
Uncle Rin described the chain of events to reporters. According to him, the confrontation began when he approached the rescue team, which had parked an ambulance outside the village for over 30 minutes, despite being called to assist an elderly foreign resident suffering from breathing difficulties. When Rin questioned the delay, a member of the rescue team allegedly responded aggressively, telling him to leave as it was “none of his business.” The volunteer then removed his uniform shirt and appeared to initiate a conflict. Shortly afterward, another state hospital ambulance arrived and took the patient to the hospital, but the initial responder continued to act confrontationally, even daring Rin to meet him at the rescue foundation’s office.
Rin admitted that a verbal exchange ensued, as he found the younger volunteer’s behavior disrespectful. The situation escalated when the same volunteer later returned on a motorcycle with a companion. Believing they had come to resolve the issue, Rin approached them, only to be physically attacked without warning. The volunteer allegedly locked Rin’s neck and repeatedly hit him with punches, elbows, and knee strikes, ignoring bystanders’ attempts to intervene.
A local resident who witnessed the event confirmed to reporters that Uncle Rin is known for being helpful around the village, often assisting neighbors with repairs without expecting anything in return. The witness suggested that Rin had likely confronted the rescue team out of concern for the foreign resident. However, the rescue team provided no explanation for the delay, which added to Rin’s frustration.
The witness expressed disappointment over the violent behavior displayed by the volunteer, emphasizing that such conduct is inappropriate for someone entrusted with helping others. “It’s disheartening to see someone in uniform attacking an elder like Uncle Rin, who couldn’t possibly defend himself,” she remarked.
Following the incident, Rin reported the assault to Pol. Sub-Lt. Manot Thipwet of Bang Lamung Police Station. He has pressed charges of physical assault against the volunteer and vowed to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law.