Two bouncers have apologised for attacking a tourist who allegedly assaulted a bar worker and then challenged them to a fight.

The security guards, Non, 36, and Nick, 37, knocked out the swaggering tourist during a chaotic encounter on a notorious strip of sex bars in Pattaya on April 14.

CCTV before the brawl shows how the shirtless holidaymaker lifted the petite woman, May, 33, who banged her head on the air con unit. She laughed at the drunker encounter, but ran to the back of the shop to avoid it happening again.

Footage emerged of the ensuing fracas, with baying sex workers cheering before using their high-heeled shoes to kick the tourist and his friend.

Police said no complaints had been made from the alleged victims, or the woman seen in the video being hoisted aloft, but they hauled the two guards and staff from the 'Where Angels Play' bar to the station on Wednesday, April 16.

Speaking in the video, the men, along with their female manager Phrae, 37, apologised for 'giving in to their anger' and for 'damaging the reputation' of the coastal town.

But they said the CCTV footage showed that the 'heavily drunk' tourist harassed one woman then turned his attention to a female manager, whom he tried to kiss and embrace.

When the bouncers intervened and dragged him away, the tourist allegedly challenged them to a boxing fight.

The bouncer said: 'He was ushered out of another establishment before entering my store around 10 pm. My boss tried to chase him away but he assaulted a girl in the bar.'

The female manager added: ‘I told him to return to his hotel. I said he should stop because he was too drunk and return tomorrow. I grabbed his hand and walked him out of my bar. He pushed me away and walked back inside.

'There have been many instances of misbehaviour, and we had never assaulted a tourist before, but he just did not stop.'

May, the woman who had been lifted up, said: 'The foreigner grabbed and lifted me, causing my head to hit an air conditioning unit. One of our employees was also harassed and now she is too scared to return to work.'

Police said that the staff involved had been given drug tests. The venue has also been temporarily closed.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Arut Suphanon, Deputy Superintendent of the Pattaya City Police Station, also ordered the bar staff to avoid attacking holidaymakers.

He said: 'There might have been a lot that happened before the incident. However, it was posted on social media and caused a negative image of the area.

‘The tourist has not filed a report yet, but we will put your information in the record. We are not sure whether the victim will report later or not. We will check where he currently is.

'If we could track him down, I would like to listen to his side of the story.'

Speaking today, Anek Sarathongyu, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, added: 'The injured tourist hasn't filed a complaint yet, but I've already brought in the security guards for questioning.

'The tourist was drunk and misbehaving, he harassed a woman at the bar, which is why the guard wouldn't let him in. It was serious harassment, he lifted her up, groped her. That's what led to the confrontation you saw.

'We have CCTV footage showing the harassment. Right now, the police are tracking down the tourist. If he really was harmed, he should come forward and file a report.

'As for the woman who was harassed, she doesn't want to press charges. She's unsure if it would be appropriate, possibly because the guy was drunk and not in his right mind.

'I don't remember his nationality, so I can't give more details on that. According to our protocol, if a security guard behaves inappropriately, we'll ask the venue to suspend operations.

'We have rules and agreements in place. Guards are supposed to look after tourists properly. If something serious happens, like in this case, the guard must notify the police, not take matters into their own hands. We take this issue very seriously.

We've recorded the guard's criminal history and conducted a urine test to check for any other offences.

'As for the alleged assault, since no complaint has been filed, there hasn't been any arrest.'

Tourists in Pattaya - best known for its ubiquitous sex industry - are regularly attacked or caught up in crime, leading the area to be dubbed 'Sin City' and a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah.

However, embarrassed officials in the central government have launched tourism initiatives to attract families and rebrand the coastal town as a safe destination.

They have even introduced safety measures, such as improved lighting and CCTV. Music festivals targeting young locals have also been staged on the beach.

A tram system and cruise ship terminal have also been proposed, along with schemes to lure in 'high value' visitors instead of heavy-drinking, lascivious Brits and Europeans.

The city's Soi 6 road - the scene of the fight - has drawn particular attention, with a number of police raids on bars and regular patrols to try and rein in the chaos.