The footage was posted on Facebook on Saturday (July 4) by user ‘Matthew Patong’, who said the incident occurred late on Friday night along Thaweewong Rd in Patong.
The post was accompanied by the caption: “Falling isn’t so bad… but the pain of having someone waiting to run over him!”
The 19-second video shows the tourist balancing on a skateboard while travelling along the busy road before reaching out to grab the back of a moving tuk-tuk to increase his speed.
The video quickly attracted attention online, with many commenters expressing alarm over the risks involved.
Social media users warned that if the skateboarder had fallen, or if the tuk-tuk driver had braked suddenly, the incident could have resulted in serious injuries not only to the tourist but also to other motorists.
Many also voiced concern that such incidents could damage Phuket’s reputation as a safe tourist destination and urged authorities to take stronger action against reckless behaviour on public roads.
Road users commenting on the video called on visitors to respect Thailand’s traffic laws and avoid using skateboards on busy roads or holding onto moving vehicles, warning that the practice poses a significant danger to everyone sharing the road.
It was not immediately clear whether police had identified the tourist or whether any action would be taken over the incident.