This is the dramatic moment a drag boat lost control and was catapulted into the air, injuring the driver, before smashing into the water.

Jamroen Soparut, 36, was racing the vessel on the Suvannabhumi canal in Samut Prakan, Thailand, last Sunday (February 17) when its nose suddenly lifted in the air.

The racer was hurled from the cockpit and whacked his head on the side of the boat before plunging unconscious into the water.

Safety stewards from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescued him from drowning and pulled him to shore. He was immediately sent to the hospital where he was treated for cuts and bruises.

Jamroen was kept in hospital overnight but was released the next morning having recovered from the knock to the head and received stitches for the wounds on his face.

Spectator Surat Bandet said that the boat flipped because it was accelerating too quickly when it hit a ripple caused by a strong headwind.

He said: ''It was windy and rainy that day. I thought this made the tide higher and more rapid than it was on his rehearsal day. The conditions were not smooth, the waves were quite big.

''The accident looked bad but I was happy that he was was not seriously injured.''

This is the dramatic moment a drag boat lost control and somersaulted into the air before smashing the pilot in the face.

Jamroen Soparut, 36, was racing the vessel on the Suvannabhumi canal in Samut Prakan, Thailand, last Sunday (17/02) when its nose suddenly lifted in the air.

The racer was hurled from the cockpit and whacked his head on the side of the boat before plunging unconscious into the water.

Safety stewards along the banks of the waterway rushed over to help and pulled him to the shore. He was immediately sent to the hospital where he was treated to cuts and bruises.

Spectator Surat Bandet said that the boat flipped because it was accelerating too quickly when it hit a rippled caused by a strong headwind.

He said: ''It was windy and rainy that day. I thought this made the tide higher and more rapid than it was on his rehearsal day. The conditions were not smooth, the waves were quite big.

''The accident looked bad but I was happy that he was was not seriously injured.''

Footage from the event shows the two boats racing to the finish line at the annual boat competition.

Jamroen speeded up to overtake the boat in front of him but his vessel unexpectedly hit the wave, lost balance, and turned over in the air.

The boat stern smashed the driver straight in his face, causing cuts to his eyebrow. Rescuers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation rushed over and saved him from drowning.

Jamroen was kept in hospital overnight but was released the next morning having recovered from the knock to the head and received stitches for the wounds on his face.