Female British tourist has part of her finger bitten off by Russian woman on a Thai beach

A British tourist had part of her finger bitten off by a Russian woman after an argument broke out over a beanbag on a beach in Thailand.

The 42-year-old victim, identified by German media as Angelina H, was attacked by the Russian tourist while she was on holiday on Ko Phangan Island.

The pair had argued over whether Angelina could use a free beanbag on the beach when the Russian woman, identified as Vavara G., 32, grabbed the Briton’s hand and bit the tip of her middle finger off.

Angelina’s friend, former German fencer Monika Sozanska, 39, was with her at the time and watched the attack unfold, describing it as ‘like something out of a horror movie’.

The 42-year-old victim, identified by German media as Angelina H, was attacked by the Russian tourist while she was on holiday on Ko Phangan Island

Sozanska said she and Angelina had been looking for a free spot at a beach on the Thai island when they found an empty bean bag chair next to a nearby couple. 

Sozanska, who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, told Bild newspaper: ‘It was 1.30pm on Saturday when we and Angelina’s dog were looking for a spot at the beach club ‘Koh Raham’ to enjoy a fresh coconut.

‘Then we noticed a vacant beanbag next to a young couple.’ 

She said the situation escalated when Vavara G. dismissed Angelina’s request to use the bean bag. Angelina was only allowed to take the bean bag with her after a waiter intervened.

Sozanska explained that Vavara G. then ran at Angelina and attacked both her and her dog before the Briton fought back.

Sozanska said: ‘Angelina hit her in the forehead. The woman disappeared briefly, only to come back angrier.’

‘She grabbed Angelina’s hand and bit it. Then she spat out the bitten phalanx and smiled. The blood just splattered. It was like something out of a horror movie.’

Angelina’s friend, former German fencer Monika Sozanska, 39 (pictured), was with her at the time and watched the attack unfold, describing it as ‘like something out of a horror movie’

The pair had argued over whether Angelina could use a free beanbag on the beach when the Russian woman, identified as Vavara G., 32, (pictured) grabbed the Briton’s hand and bit the tip of her middle finger off.

While Sozanska was trying to dig the fingertip out of the sand and comfort her petrified friend in the meantime, Vavara G. and her partner, who has not been named, attempted to escape but they were immediately caught by police who were nearby.

Vavara G. only had a photo of her passport with her so police officers told her to bring her documents from her hotel to a local station. But the couple had already fled away by plane to neighbouring Malaysia.

Angelina was was rushed to a hospital on the neighbouring island of Koh Samui, but was soon flown to Britain for reattachment surgery.

Monika said: ‘The doctors are now trying to save the finger and avoid amputation using a special procedure called wrapping.’

Dentistry professor Florian Beuer, 48, from the University Hospital of Charite in Berlin explained that humans transmit less force with their front teeth in contrast to their side ones.

He then suspected that biting off the fingertip must have been painful for the Russian woman as well. Beuer said: ‘Our teeth are not designed for such forces.’