The parents of Vorasit “Plawan” Issara, seriously injured in a notorious Phuket bar brawl, held a press conference on Saturday Jan. 7 saying that their son was “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the Phuket Gazette reported.
Vorasit was beaten severely, stabbed in the stomach, and had his head and neck chopped at with a makeshift axe in the brawl outside Ratchada – Ca Na La nightclub in Phuket town on Jan. 4.
His father Songkran Issara, managing director of giant Bangkok-based developer Charn Issara, and his mother Srivara Issara said their son was lucky to be alive.
The press conference at Bangkok Hospital Phuket detailed the injuries to Vorasit and three others who arrived at the hospital with him – one who is thought to be Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner, although his representatives denied that he was injured.
Bangkok Phuket Hospital Deputy Director Badin La-aid and orthopedic surgeon Pongsak Vijitrutrujanapan showed slides of Vorasit’s severe injuries, which included:
– A deep gash to the left stomach that wounded the large intestine, the most life-threatening wound
– A deep laceration to his right should that separated the clavicle from the upper arm
– A cut to the left ankle that severed two tendons
– An axe wound to the left shoulder that hit the blade
– Five wounds to the head from a sharp object
Vorasit was in surgery for 12 hours after the fight and is currently listed in “safe” condition. He lost between one and one-and-a-half liters of blood.
Police said they will question additional witnesses including a policeman who was allegedly outside the club when the fight happened. Six men have already been arrested and charged with attempted murder.
Vorasit’s father Songkran said at the press conference that he didn’t think his son started the fight.
“I think he was in the wrong place and time…The fact that a single broken whiskey glass nearly cost him his life shows just how bad our society has become,” he said, according to the Gazette. “I would like to warn young people who go out clubbing at night that they are not immune and should always keep an eye out for possible trouble.”
His mother Srivara echoed the sentiment. “We are quite confident in our son’s behavior and definitely don’t think he could have instigated this fight. He is always nice and kind to all people,” she said. “I’m am still in doubt as to why these men set on him so viciously. This is a big lesson to our son about the dangers of going out to places and being surrounded by so many drunken people. Plawan quite loves Phuket, but it’s bad what has happened to him.”
It’s still unclear how the fight at the nightclub began.
One of the six suspects reportedly wanted to tell his side of the story at a press conference on Jan. 5, but was stopped by new Phuket Police Superintendent Chonasit Wattanavrangku who said that his statement would interfere with the investigation.
Ratchada – Ca Na La nightclub has been forced to close for 60 days during the investigation, as it was open well after the designated closing time of 1AM when the melee occurred. The club is a popular latenight destination for both Thai and farang punters want to continue the party after most venues are closed.
Photos of the recent press conference and one of Vorasit’s wounds are on the Phuket Gazette’s website.
