A YOUNG woman from Sweden was slashed with a knife by a bag-snatcher at a popular Phuket beach yesterday. The assailant escaped on the back of a motorcycle ridden by an accomplice.

The kife-wielding youth attacked Emelia Therese Andersson, 22, about 7.30pm on the beach road at Karon, opposite Phuket's largest resort, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa.

Miss Andersson was slashed on the right forearm when she tried to resist. The man grabbed her bag, hopped on to the rear of the motorcycle, and sped off.

The Director of Operations at the Hilton, Richard Margo, 44, and the resort's spa manager were making an inspection tour at the resort when they heard the young woman's screams and rushed to help. A second young woman was with Miss Andersson.

''I was amazed that the attack happened with the beach road so busy,'' he told Phuketwan today. ''It was in a well-lit part of the road, too.''

Mr Margo used his shirt to wrap around the wound and made sure the young woman was swiftly in a taxi for Patong Hospital.

''It was a nasty cut,'' he said. ''I was shocked by the wound. She needed nine internal stitches and 18 external stitches.''

Miss Andersson's passport, cash and other belongings were in the bag. Mr Margo visited the young woman this morning. From France, he began his role at the resort in December.

''We are so sorry to see people on holiday and this kind of thing happening.''

Mr Margo said the man who wielded the knife had distinctive long curly hair, although it's possible he may have been wearing a wig.

Police have yet to establish any real leads as to the identity of the assailants. It is believed there are no security cameras trained on that stretch of beach road.

Senior Phuket police recently warned through Phuketwan that the number of motorcycle-rider attacks by young, disadvantaged teenagers is growing and is likely to increase further.