Disturbing footage has emerged showing an elderly tourist being attacked during Thailand’s Songkran festival. The incident occurred on April 17, involving a European man in his 50s who confronted a group after they sprayed water directly in his face during this notoriously chaotic water celebration.
The video captures the man, who seemed to be alone, being assaulted by several younger males. He initially attempted to defend himself but was eventually brought down, enduring multiple kicks to the head.
Onlookers, clearly alarmed, rushed in to separate the attackers from the victim. A witness, Wainchit Sukhanta, noted that the clash took place on Pattaya’s infamous Walking Street, a location known for its late-night violence. She recounted, “Three men were involved; it felt like an unfair fight. I really sympathize with the old man. It all began with them dousing him in water. Where were the police?”
Local authorities later indicated that no formal charges had been made regarding the incident. Meanwhile, another tourist shared on social media the next day that he “almost went blind” after being hit in the face by a powerful water gun in Bangkok during the festival’s second day. He explained, “A water gun hit me square in the left eye. For about 30 seconds, I couldn’t see anything.” Upon returning to his hotel, he discovered a dark spot in his eye, prompting a visit to an ophthalmologist, who diagnosed him with a retinal hemorrhage.
Songkran is a traditional Buddhist festival marking the New Year, typically celebrated from April 13th to 15th. Historically, it has involved gentle rituals where younger people pour water on the hands and feet of their elders as a sign of respect, helping wash away misfortunes.
However, in recent years, as tourism has flourished, the celebration has transformed into large, rowdy parties with crowds engaging in water fights. This shift has led to growing concerns among local residents about increasingly reckless behavior from intoxicated tourists, putting pressure on Thai authorities to take action to manage the festival more effectively.
