Australian Woman Dies of Stabbing by Bag Snatcher in Thailand Tour
An Australian travel agent died in Thailand Wednesday night after snatchers on motorcycle inflicted a fatal stab wound to her heart.
Phuket Wan Tourism News said the victim was from Perth.
The victim and her fellow agents were walking on the streets of Phuket when a motorcycle with two male riders pulled closely. The back rider tried to snatch the victim's bag, but she would not let go. The rider stabbed her to the heart, causing the woman to fall to the ground.
One of the travel agents accompanying the victim was slashed on the arm during the incident. She
The riders quickly pulled away empty-handed after the stabbing.
The Aussie woman was in Phuket, Thailand for business. She was with other travel agents to inspect a five-star hotel before recommending it to clients.
News Limited reported the group of ten travel agents arrived in Phuket on Monday morning. They were on a business trip to inspect the five-star Katathani Beach Resort on Phuket's west coast.
"We were walking single-file along the road, coming back from dinner. These guys had gone past a couple of times, and that started to bother us," the wounded victim told Phuketwan.
"Then I heard a noise behind me and I turned to see what I thought was my friend being pushed in the chest. I tried to help her... The men rode off, empty-handed. We started walking again, and only then did we realise we'd both been slashed."
The newscast showed the CCTV image of the suspects on motorcycle, but their faces were turned away from the camera.
Australian honorary consul Larry Cunningham is coordinating with Thai authorities and the victim's family in Australia. Thai police are now investigating. It is understood that no arrests have been made.
News Highlights
- An Australian woman, a travel agent reportedly from Perth, was in Phuket, Thailand for hotel inspection. The woman was with a group of ten agents.
- A motorcycle with two riders pulled next to the group when they were on the street after having gone to dinner. The back rider tried to snatch the victim's bag, but she struggled.
- The victim died from a fatal wound to her heart.
- One of the women in the group got slashed on her arm when she tried to help her friend.
- The riders pulled away without having taken the victim's bag.
- Both victims had not immediately realised they had been stabbed during the incident.
-Thai police are still investigating.