Brit’s deadly combat in Thailand was sparked after ‘misunderstanding when one bouncer tried to get him to make use of translation app on his cellphone whereas making an attempt to assist him after turning him away from karaoke bar’
British tourist Nick Weir was tragically killed in a fight near a karaoke bar in Bangkok after an apparent misunderstanding with staff, the bouncers have suggested.
The 28-year-old tourist was turned away from the 91karaoke bar early on Monday morning before being pursued by two members of security on a motorcycle.
The bike stopped abruptly in front of Mr Weir before one of the bouncers, named locally as Mr Phurinat, 32, asked him: ‘Is there anything I can help you with?’
Mr Weir at that point ‘acted displeased’, local media reports, and jumped on the motorcycle, as seen in CCTV footage near the club.
The other bouncer, named only as Mr Boonchu, then pushed Mr Weir away, igniting a confrontation.
Trying to clarify the situation, Mr Boonchu then held out his phone ‘to translate’, Matichon reports.
Mr Weir then reportedly tried to grab the phone but missed, before running into the road and trying to get on the motorcycle.
The three were seen in CCTV footage fighting after Mr Boonchu pulled Mr Weir off the motorcycle.
The Leeds University graduate ‘became still’ after the bouncers held him in a restraining position on the ground, Matichon reports.
They called for help after Mr Weir was knocked unconscious, police said, but paramedics were unable to save him with CPR.
Mr Weir was travelling in Thailand when he stopped at the bar in Bangkok early Monday
CCTV footage showed Nick Weir and the bouncers before the incident
The scene of the karaoke bar pictured on Tuesday, as bouncers were questioned by police
It was not clear what caused Mr Weir to act erratically when trying to get into the bar, or when trying to get on the motorcycle.
Lieutenant Colonel Apichai Hwanjit, Deputy Superintendent of the Bang Po station, said that Mr Weir had been turned away from the bar by staff.
But police said CCTV showed he did not appear to be drunk when he arrived at the bar because he was ‘running in a straight line’.
However, they did say he was ‘shouting and causing a commotion’.
‘Currently, we are waiting for the forensic results to determine whether the deceased was intoxicated or under the influence of any substances.
‘It is crucial for the case to ensure clarity. We are waiting for the blood test results to check for drugs or alcohol.
‘From the CCTV footage, he did not appear to be in a typical state of drunkenness.
‘He was running, shouting and causing a commotion, but he wasn’t completely out of control. He ran in a straight line, not stumbling like someone who is drunk.
Mr Weir had already ran nearly a kilometre, police said, before reaching the karaoke bar.
Nick Weir (right) pictured with his parents and sister, undated
Paramedics arrived at the scene around 2.20am but were unable to save the Briton with CPR
He was then seen running away from the bar before being stopped by staff.
Apichai acknowledged claims circulating in Thai media, that the men had tried to restrain him as they ‘wrestled’, causing Mr Weir to fall.
According to local media, Mr Phurinat ‘climbed up and sat on’ Mr Weir ‘from the wait down, leaning forward’ after he fell.
‘Mr Boonchu locked his arms and pressed his head down on his torso, causing the torso to lie sideways until the foreigner became still’.
‘We are unsure if there was any pressure applied during the fall that caused the death, so we are waiting for the forensic results,’ Apichai said.
‘The security guard nearby’ called the police when tensions cooled.
Mr Phurinat and Mr Boonchu stayed at the scene and did not flee, police said.
One of Nick’s friends, who was not named, reacted with horror at the news on Tuesday, and said the behaviour was unusual.
They told ViralPress: ‘I didn’t know. That was not in [his] character at all.
‘He was so polite, the nicest guy. I can’t believe it. I can’t process this.
‘I knew he was in Thailand. I messaged him yesterday but haven’t heard back from him.’
Mr Weir was identified as a privately-educated manager of a company in Salisbury, who went to the International School of Brussels before studying at Leeds University.
Local police said that the British Embassy had been informed of his death.
An FCDO spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We are providing support to the family of a British man who died in Bangkok and are in contact with the local authorities.’
