Karon Police were notified of the stabbing at 6pm.
“When we arrived, we found traces of blood on the sand,” said Lt Weerayuth Thansirisukworakul of the Karon Police.
“Apparently Mr Smith lost a significant amount of blood from the stabbing. We were told that a good Samaritan had already taken the victim, 52-year-old Christopher George Smith, to the Accident and Emergency Centre in Chalong.
“He was later transferred to Phuket International Hospital, where he is now recovering from his injury,” Lt Weerayuth said.
The man who allegedly stabbed Mr Smith was identified as Kittichai Julkaew, a 29-year-old from Nakhon Sri Thammarat who rents out surfboards at Kata Beach.
According to witnesses, Mr Smith was walking on the beach when Kittichai approached him from behind and stabbed him in the back with a knife, Lt Weerayuth said.
“Kittichai then sped away from the scene on a motorbike heading south,” he said.
“Witnesses said that both men had altercations many times because Mr Smith’s wife and Kittichai have surfboard rental businesses in the same area,” he explained.
“We are checking CCTV in the area to see in which direction Kittichai went and bring him in for questioning,” Lt Weerayuth added.
“We will question Mr Smith about the incident as soon as he is ready to talk,” he said.