"Basically, the victim was just sitting there and gets belted, unprovoked.
"He (the accused) just laid into him, punching him in the head."
Sergeant Edwards said the accused had been involved in an earlier incident that had "nothing to do with the victim" and that he "got the wrong person".
He said the French national is believed to be on a working visa.
Sergeant Edwards said it was another example of a spike in "severe" incidents of violence within the Coast's safe night precincts.
The accused was released on bail with conditions and is due to face the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on May 5.