A British boxer is currently hospitalized in Thailand after sustaining serious head injuries from falling off a moving tuk-tuk during a dispute over a taxi fare in Phuket’s Patong district. Colin Cairney, 29, was involved in the incident in the early hours of Saturday and is now in intensive care. Authorities are searching for the tuk-tuk driver who allegedly drove off following the incident.
According to investigators, Cairney was returning to his hotel after a night out when a disagreement arose over payment for the ride. It is reported that he did not have cash with him, leading to arrangements for him to withdraw money from an ATM nearby.
Security footage indicated that the tuk-tuk passed by The Nature Hotel around 4 am without stopping, later being spotted heading back in the direction of Patong. Police confirmed that Cairney, originally from Stirling, central Scotland, fell from the tuk-tuk and suffered a severe head injury upon hitting the ground. CCTV footage showed no signs of assault, suggesting he fell without being pushed.
Emergency services responded to a call reporting a man injured near a pedestrian crossing on Phra Baramee Road at approximately 4:10 am. Cairney was initially taken to Patong Hospital before being transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital for specialized treatment.
Alcohol and drug tests have been conducted, but the results are pending release. The registered owner of the tuk-tuk has been located by the police, who stated that the vehicle had been rented to another individual using it as a taxi. Efforts are underway to locate the driver for questioning.
In the event of Cairney’s condition deteriorating and resulting in fatality, the driver could face charges such as negligent driving causing death, failure to stop and aid an injured person, and neglecting to inform authorities.
