Fitness-goer hit in face with DUMBBELL during bench press at Thai gym – World News

Gary Reed, 46, of Hastings, said the man could have killed him after hitting him in the face with a 1kg bar at Coco Fitness in Thailand.

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Thailand: Gym-goer is attacked by a man with a dumbbell

This is the shocking moment a gym-goer was brutally attacked with a barbell after refusing to give up the bench press.

Gary Reed, 46, was working out when an angry fitness fanatic stormed over, claiming he was waiting to use the machine at the gym in Pattaya, Thailand.

The British ex-pat from Hastings, East Sussex, told the fellow Englishman he wanted to finish his set and was refusing to give up the bench press, pointing to others available nearby.

Gary said the other man appeared to have accepted the situation, but moments later he came back with the 7 inch 1kg metal bar and punched him in the face.

CCTV footage shows Gary lying on the bench before the stranger hit him in the head with the metal bar portion of the weights.

Staggered, Gary staggered to his feet and then confronted the attacker as they began wrestling in front of the security cameras.

Speaking from the hospital today, Gary said he needed 60 stitches after Tuesday’s alleged attack.

He also suffered a fractured right eye socket, bleeding on his retina and requires a CT scan to check for brain damage.

“There was no line to use the machines, so I just lay down on the bench to start lifting like I normally do,” he said.

“You can see in the video that my weights were by the side of the bench the entire time, which basically means I’m still using them,” he added.

“Then this guy just came over and said he wanted to use the bench press.

“I was like, ‘Dude, just let me finish, I’ll be done in two minutes,’ but he didn’t want it. There were others available so I think he was looking for a fight.

“I kept training, then he just came at me from behind like a coward and really hit me on the head.

“As far as I’m concerned, he could have killed me.

“Beating someone in the head with a hammer is like attempted murder.

“It was a piece of metal as big and almost as heavy as a hammer. I’m lucky it didn’t blow my mind.”

Gary said the Brit lunged at him while he was allegedly trying to continue the attack at Coco Fitness gym.

After being punched in the face, Gary jumped off the bench press and took cover as the foreigner kept punching him.

The argument lasted almost a minute before Gary was able to hug him tightly. The victim then fled on foot.

Gary has already paid 25,000 baht or £579 in medical expenses, which could increase if he needs surgery and more treatment.

He added: “This guy was still trying to hit me, but I was strong enough to take him down, then he did it.

“I have a big hospital bill behind me, so he has to pay for it. I want the police to catch him so he can’t do this to anyone.”

The Brit went to the police to make a complaint and was taken to a hospital where he received 60 stitches around his right eye to obtain a medical certificate.

Police confirmed they are now looking for the suspect.

Lieutenant Khunthum Khantiwong said: “We already have the attacker’s identity from the gym’s membership log and encourage him to cooperate so that he can explain his side as well.

“If he doesn’t surrender, we will find him and he will be questioned about the CCTV video attack.”

The attacker’s gym membership has now been terminated following the incident.

The police station refused to reveal the man’s identity while the investigation continued.

Pattaya is a city on the east coast of Thailand best known for its 24-hour nightlife and bustling sex industry, which has led to it being dubbed modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah, or Sin City.

It attracts millions of tourists each year as well as Britons who wish to retire there.