A 30-year-old British man has tragically died after participating in his debut Muay Thai fight in Thailand.
The incident occurred late Friday evening at the Samui Inter Boxing Stadium in Koh Samui, where the man faced an opponent known only as “Superlek” in a scheduled five-round match.
According to police reports, the fight lasted three rounds. The British fighter initially showed strength, knocking his rival down in the first round. However, in the third round, he suffered multiple rib kicks before collapsing, prompting the referee to stop the bout.
Shockingly, the man walked out of the ring unaided and removed his gloves, but soon began struggling to breathe, his eyes glazing over. Witnesses say he lost consciousness minutes later, and despite immediate CPR at the scene and extended efforts at Thai International Hospital, he was pronounced dead at 11:00 PM.
Authorities have transferred his body for autopsy and notified the UK Embassy. The Foreign Office has been contacted for further details.
Muay Thai, a brutal martial art permitting elbows, kicks, and punches, draws many tourists to Thailand. Fight tickets are often priced around £35. The sport has also grown popular among British travelers seeking training camps, raising fresh safety concerns.
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