PHUKET: A father-of-five whose ear was almost severed in a savage after-dark knife attack at a Phuket beach, is appealing for help to renowned singer Ricky Martin.

''When Ricky was here after the 2004 tsunami, he got to know my family,'' Patong security guard Reno Nunsuwan, 41, said last night. ''Ricky said if we ever needed help, to call him.

''Ricky, we need your help now.''

Khun Reno, out for a quiet, relaxing evening with his wife on the beach at Kata on March 22, almost had his ear slashed off in an unprovoked attack from behind by the man wielding a knife.

''It was after midnight and we'd been doing some shopping at Kata Centre,'' he said. ''My wife and I took two cans of Leo and two bottles of energy drink down to the beach.

''We were sitting there, listening to the waves, when I was attacked.''

The first blow from behind almost took off his ear. In the fracas that followed, he was stabbed in the throat and slashed on an arm.

He remembers throwing sand at the man to fight him off, then staggering to a nearby car park where there were several people dressed all in black, just like the knife wielding assailant.

''It was very strange but the man came up to the car park, carrying the two cans of Leo,'' Khun Reno said. ''Then I passed out.''

He was treated at Patong Hospital and transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City for more detailed surgery to his almost-severed right ear.

As soon as he was released from Vachira Phuket, he went to Karon Police Station - the closest to Kata beach - to report the 1am attack.

Yesterday after scouring security camera footage, he thinks he identified the man who knifed him, filmed riding down a soi in Kata. He hopes police can catch the man.

''I have no idea why he attacked me,'' Khun Reno said. ''But just before the attack, a woman walked up to us on the beach and asked, 'Did you know Thorn?'

''We had no idea what she was talking about, and said 'No,we don't know Thorn.' Then I was attacked from behind.''

Many people use the beach at Kata to relax at night because, unlike Patong, the loungers and tables are left out on the sand overnight.

Khun Reno has been told he will need more surgery to save his ear and, as a low-paid security guard at Patong's council offices, he fears he could struggle to find work and to feed his large family.

''Ricky Martin is our best hope,'' he said. ''When Ricky came to help after the 2004 tsunami, we became friends. This is an even tougher time for us now. We hope Ricky can help.''