A RUSSIAN tourist who returned to find a stranger in his room at a five-star Phuket resort fought with the intruder, who later died in hospital, an honorary consul said today.

The tourist, named by Phuket police as Akcehob Aksenov, now awaits the outcome of a charge of manslaughter over the death. The tourist and his wife were due to fly home today but are staying on to await the end of the case.

Russia's deputy honorary consul Santi Udomkiratak, who has been closely involved in the aftermath, told Phuketwan today that the incident took place about 2am on November 8 in a room at the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Resort, an award-winning five-star and one of the most highly-regarded resorts on Phuket.

''The man and his wife returned from a night out to find the intruder in their room,'' Khun Santi said. ''The man was a security guard. He had a knife.

''The two men wrestled, and the Russian man was slashed on the forearm. The Russian, who was a bigger man, toppled the attacker and subdued him. After the fight, the security guard was taken to Thalang Hospital, where he died.''

Khun Santi said police were awaiting a report from the hospital to determine the precise cause of death, but officers believed the incident was clearly a case of self-defence. Investigations are continuing.

Khun Santi said he could not offer any clues as to why the security guard was in the couple's room at 2am. He said the couple's room had direct access out to Bang Tao beach.

It was the couple's first Phuket holiday. They had arrived two days before the room invasion.

The Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket has consistently won top tourism and travel awards, including several this year.

Just weeks ago, the resort was sold for 2.6 billion baht to Dusit Thani Ltd, the Thai company whose name the resort has carried since it became the first brand to open at the Laguna Phuket complex in 1987.

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, stayed at the Dusit Thani last year, during an Asean summit of foreign ministers at the nearby Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket.

The security guard's death was recorded in an updated list of alleged crimes involving expats on Phuket, released to Phuketwan today by senior Phuket police.

Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong has pledged to make the safety and security of expats on Phuket a priority by making transparent all alleged crimes involving expats, both as perpetrators and victims.

The list will be delivered to honorary consuls and embassy representatives from about 22 countries when they meet with Phuket Governor Tri Augkharadacha on Monday in Phuket's fourth quarterly expat ''parliament.''

Until today, the incident has gone unreported in the Thai media.