In the sun-kissed island paradise of Phuket, a routine Saturday evening took a turn straight out of a high-octane action movie. At the heart of this unexpected drama were two visitors from New Zealand, Hamish and Oscar Day, whose holiday escapades escalated into a Hollywood-worthy chase scene along the bustling Chaofa (East) Road.
It all began at the stroke of 3.50 pm when Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somsak Noo-iad, a dedicated traffic officer at Chalong station, caught sight of the Day brothers zipping through the community zone with a zest that clearly flouted the local traffic etiquette. Demonstrating a blatant disregard for the rules, these intrepid motorcycle enthusiasts opted for adrenaline over safety, weaving through traffic at a pace that made the very concept of “staying in the left lane” seem pedestrian.
The plot thickened when Somsak, in an earnest attempt to restore order, signaled for the brothers to halt. However, the Day duo was not about to let their adventure be curtailed. In a twist straight out of an action flick, they gunned their engines in a bold bid for escape. But as in every good story, our hero was not easily deterred. Somsak gave chase, the pursuit as thrilling as it was unexpected on an otherwise tranquil Phuket day.
When the chase reached its climax, the brothers finally brought their motorcycles to a stop, but not their defiance. As Somsak attempted to capture this unprecedented encounter on his mobile phone, the situation escalated from a mere chase to a physical confrontation. It wasn’t long before shouts turned to shoves, and in a heart-stopping moment, our officer found himself grappling on the ground with the tourists in an intense struggle for his pistol.
In the midst of the scuffle, a shot rang out—a sound so startling in the serene setting of Phuket that it might as well have been a cannon. Fortunately, fate intervened, and no one was harmed.
Reinforcements soon arrived from Chalong station, culminating in the dramatic arrest of the Day brothers. Their charges read like the rap sheet of seasoned criminals: robbery, obstruction of police duty, assault on a policeman, unlicensed driving, and even bribery—a futile attempt to sway the unwavering integrity of Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somsak.
As the dust settled, the Chief of Chalong station, Pol Col Ekarat Plaiduang, recounted the tale with a mix of disbelief and pride. This surreal saga marked the first of its kind at Chalong station, but thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of officers like Somsak, it ended with justice served.
The aftermath saw the Day brothers detained, awaiting a court hearing that would decide their fate, far from the freedom of the open road they so craved. As for Somsak, nursing injuries but undeterred, he was celebrated as a symbol of dedication and bravery—a beacon of light in the face of unexpected darkness.
This extraordinary encounter on the streets of Phuket serves as a potent reminder of the unpredictability of life and the extraordinary lengths to which our everyday heroes go to maintain peace and safety. In the end, it’s not just about traffic rules—it’s about the courage and resilience that bind us together, in Phuket and beyond.
I can’t believe those brothers thought they could get away with such dangerous behavior! Their actions could have hurt innocent people. I’m glad the police officer was brave enough to chase after them.
But doesn’t everyone crave a bit of adventure? Yes, they broke the law, but it’s not like they hurt anyone. The officer chose to give chase, escalating the situation.
Craving adventure doesn’t mean you put others at risk. What if they had caused an accident? Laws are there for a reason. The officer did his job.
Exactly, @LawLover! It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. People need to think about the consequences of their actions.
This is why tourists often get a bad rep here. They think Phuket is their playground to do as they please. I’m glad the police are taking action against such reckless behavior.
It’s not fair to generalize all tourists based on the actions of a few. Many of us respect and follow the laws of the places we visit.
Riding a motorcycle can be thrilling, but there’s a fine line between fun and folly. The Day brothers crossed it. It’s a miracle no one was injured—or worse.
Isn’t life all about taking risks? Imagine the stories they’ll have to tell. A bit of jail time might be worth it for the legend they’ll become.
Some risks aren’t worth taking, especially when they endanger the lives of others. It’s selfish and irresponsible.
They are not legends in NZ that is for sure.
They are business owners…
Would be surprised if this doesn’t damage their reputations.
The fact that they tried to bribe the officer shows their character. They knew they were in the wrong and yet tried to escape the consequences of their actions. No respect.
Or maybe it was a moment of desperation? People can make poor choices under pressure without it defining their entire character.
Desperation doesn’t justify illegal actions. It’s our choices in those moments that truly show who we are.
They made a lot of mistakes on this day. According to one article:
* Avoided a police check
* Raced away in a high speed chase
* Verbally assaulted
* Physically assaulted — punched police officer multiple times
* Took his gun
* Bribed him
This indicates a little about someones character.
Anyone who has ever been to Thailand knows the police will target tourists to trap them with minor offences to then ask for bribes. The fact that this cop didnt take a bribe is as surprising as the story itself.
Lets not try to make this into a local hero story, Thai police make their living from bibes. Anyhow these brothers are defintiely screwed and their actions wont be accepted by the local judiciary.
Let’s not forget the real hero, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somsak. His courage probably prevented a bigger disaster. He deserves a medal.
While I agree he’s brave, shouldn’t that be expected of all police officers? Aren’t they trained for these kinds of situations?
Training or not, it takes guts to do what he did. Not all heroes wear capes, some wear a uniform.
This is why I’m hesitant to travel. You never know when you’ll be caught up in someone else’s ‘adventure’.
Travel is more about the good than the bad. Don’t let this one incident scare you away from experiencing the world.
Thais should never forget for one second, that Westerners are not their friends or have any respect for them.
Wow I love the idealistic, yet completely unrealistic picture. Sets the tone for this trash piece well.
Is the writer on some crusade in an attempt to gain any’ sort of recognition in the written form.
There are always two sides to every story, but the way in which this has been portrayed is truly epic and the writer really does deserve some form of congratulatory response.
But not from me as I struggle to push through the written diarrhoea and eek out any sort of facts. I am in complete agreement around the tourist and their ever increasing non-compliance of laws in Thailand though. This is certainly an incredible example of arrogance on the behalf of these two idiots and they deserve everything the Thai law throws at them.
It does not matter what country we are in the law is the law and laws are in place for the safety of us and others.
These stupid men made the choice of putting themselves and others in danger.
The police in New Zealand would do just the same to any tourist and charged them with their crimes and court action would apply and go to jail .
These man have committed many crimes and jail is the only way to teach some people and Jail means after the jail time being deported in disgrace and international travel days are over.
With jail time they cant go back home to earn a living or pay their mortgage and support this family and their families will also suffer the embarrassment.,
These two men are old enough to realise their actions are faced with punishment.
Punish these men and bring them down and suffer in a Thailand Jail .
There daddy will try and bail them out of this, like he has many times before.