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Newport man dies after Thai bar brawl

An Australian man who died after a bar brawl in Thailand has been identified by local media as Newport resident Benjamin Robb.

Mr Robb, 42, was involved in a fight at the Ruby Club in Pattaya about 7.30pm local time on Friday, Pattaya News reported.

Local media reported that he was knocked unconscious and appeared to have a seizure.

Benjamin Robb Photo: Facebook/Ben Robb

American citizen Jose Manuel Polanco jnr, 43, initially fled but later handed himself in to police and remains in custody.

Mr Robb died in Pattaya Memorial Hospital about 3am the next day.

The Ruby Club released a statement that said “an altercation lasting less than 20 seconds between two customers on Friday night resulted in one person taken to hospital with serious looking injuries, which sadly resulted in him passing away in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“The other individual involved handed himself in to police and it is understood he is to remain in custody until a court appearance in 10 days or so.”

An Australian consular official said support was being provided to Mr Robb’s family.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who died in Thailand,” he said.

“For privacy reasons we are unable to provide further details.”

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