The incident happened on Monday night (Jan 24), but videos of the incident began circulating on Thai social media sites yesterday.
Kathu Municipality rescue worker Pannakorn Pongphao explained to The Phuket News that he and his team of rescue workers had arrived at the home, in Soi Tessabaan 2 School, at about 7pm.
The team had been tasked with returning home a bedridden patient from Vachira Phuket Hospital, he said.
Mr Pannakorn said that he saw the man when the team arrived, but paid no attention to him.
“I asked my team to take the patient into the house because my supervisor had called to ask me to pick up another patient. While I was on the phone, I heard someone shouting, ‘Do you want to fight me?’ I looked up but then ignored the man because I didn’t think he was talking to me,” Mr Pannakorn said.
“After a while, he heard him shout again “Do you want to fight me?’ As I turned around, he ran over and tried to punch me. Luckily I managed to dodge,” he added.
“He kept trying to hit me, but I blocked the punches. I managed to get away from him and called 191. When the police came, they took the man to the police station,” Mr Pannakorn said.
“I decided not to press any charges. I just let him rest and calm down,” he added.
“After that, I asked the residents in the area and found out that the man does not live in the area or even sleep in that alley. He just comes to drink alcohol often,” Mr Pannakorn said.