NZ man stabbed in Thailand

A New Zealand man has reportedly been stabbed while walking along a beach in Thailand.

Christopher George Smith, 52, was walking on Kata Beach on Phuket Island when he was stabbed about 6pm (11pm NZT) on Monday, the Phuket Gazette reported.

The man who allegedly stabbed him was identified as Kittichai Julkaew, a 29-year-old from Nakhon Sri Thammarat who rents out surfboards at Kata Beach.

Witnesses told police Mr Smith was walking on the beach when Mr Julkaew approached him from behind and stabbed him in the back with a knife, the Gazette reported.

They alleged the men had many altercations because Mr Smith's wife and Mr Julkaew had surfboard rental businesses in the same area.

"When we arrived, we found traces of blood on the sand," Lieutenant Weerayuth Thansirisukworakul, of Karon Police, told the Gazette.

"Apparently Mr Smith lost a significant amount of blood from the stabbing. We were told that a good Samaritan had already taken the victim, a 52-year-old, to the Accident and Emergency Centre in Chalong.

"He was later transferred to Phuket International Hospital, where he is now recovering from his injury."

Police said Mr Julkaew sped away from the scene on a motorbike heading south.

"We are checking CCTV in the area to see in which direction Kittichai went and bring him in for questioning."