This is the shocking moment an American tourist who allegedly attacked a local woman with a stick was chased by furious locals.

The holidaymaker, identified only as MD, 29, allegedly went on a rampage over noise at a construction project near his hotel in South Kuta, Badung Regency.

He was said to have stormed to the site before hitting building equipment owner Ni Komang Sri Hartati Rahayu Ningsih, 47, on the back of the neck with a wooden stick on November 23.

The woman collapsed onto the ground as vengeful villagers, wielding wooden weapons, then chased MD down the street in retaliation.

Dramatic footage shows the men beating MD near the main road, but he managed to flee back to his room, where he was detained by the South Kuta Police shortly after.

He told officers: 'The boss smacked my phone. His wife smacked my hand three times. She hit me three times. I did this to her cheek.

'Two dudes, one dude pulled out a knife on me, another dude pulled out a pipe on me, another dude pulled out a stick on me. Three weapons, one man, no weapons. And they started hitting me.'

MD suffered a laceration on the left side of his head, abrasions on both knees and his left elbow, while Komang suffered dizziness and abrasions on both elbows and her left knee after falling.

Denpasar police spokesman I Ketut Sukadi said: 'Two days earlier, the man poured diesel over the heavy equipment at the site. Then on Sunday morning, around 9:30 am, the woman arrived to clean it up.

'While she was busy, the American came up to her shouting in English that she couldn't understand. She said he touched her cheek and raised his voice. The workers saw it and immediately stepped in.

'He left when they confronted him, but came back moments later carrying a piece of wood and a machete-like weapon. He then hit her on the back of the neck with the wood, causing her to fall and feel dizzy. A number of construction workers, who were the victim's employees, became angry and chased the tourist. After that, the woman reported the incident to the South Kuta Police.'

Authorities said MD underwent a drug test, which returned negative for narcotics.

Police said they have notified the US Embassy that further action will be taken.

The incident is the latest involving misbehaving tourists on the bustling holiday island.

Officials have even taken steps to rein in the chaos following frequent complaints from police and residents about tourists disrespecting the culture, violating traffic rules, committing crimes and behaving badly in public.