PHUKET: A solidly-built Australian tourist required six Phuket police to handcuff him last night in an incident on the streets of Patong that won praise for the way officers handled the situation.

Tourist Police international volunteer Wal Brown said the police behaved in an ''absolutely excellent'' fashion by subduing the man without using excessive violence.

''It was a difficult situation,'' Mr Brown said. ''He walked out of his resort, leaving the door to his room open, and caused concern by lashing out with his foot at passing motorcycles in beach road, near Soi Bangla.''

The man, dressed only in boxers underwear, thought he was on Bali, Mr Brown said.

Although he was lucid, the man clearly posed a danger to himself and passersby. One car travelling down beach road clipped the man, grazing a leg.

''I tried to have a yarn with him, but it was very difficult,'' Mr Brown said. ''The police tried to tackle him once, but he was such a big man that he just threw them off.

''At the second attempt, the officers managed to subdue him.''

At Kathu Police Station, which oversees Patong, a telephone call was made to the man's father in Australia.

He explained the situation to police and soon after contact was made with a friend of the man's father, who accompanied the younger man to Phuket on Saturday.

''The man was hyperventilating the whole time during the episode, but police understood the situation.

''After being given an explanation, they allowed him to go in the company of his friend, provided he did not forget to take his medication.''

Mr Brown said he thought the incident ''could have gone really badly but it was resolved very well in the end.''

It's not uncommon, Phuketwan has been told by envoys from several countries, for visitors to Phuket to assume that taking a holiday also means taking a break from medication.