Paramedics had an epic struggle to remove a ring that a schoolgirl had stuck on her finger.

The team were called after Benjapa Kansum, 18, was given the steel band from a friend but after putting it on her left middle finger, it was jammed. Her finger then began swelling even more - rendering it impossible to pull off.

Rescue workers arrived at the restaurant in Kamphaeng Phet, central Thailand on Monday night (May 18) where they spent three hours tackling the problem.

Footage shows how the female volunteer first tried the traditional 'life hack' method of wrapping cotton thread around the ring to slowly loosen it - but that failed.

They then tried the same trick with a plastic bag before attempting to yank it free with two different pairs of pliers, but all were ineffective. Even filing the steel ring was futile.

The team decided to go for a tougher method by using a metal cutting power tool to slice through the ring. The frightened the girl had to look away as sparks flew but the band was finally removed.

College student Benjapa said she will stay away from rings from now on. She said: "I tried to take it off myself but it really started to hurt. There was no way I could remove it.

"I don't think I could wear a ring again in my life. The fear of having it stuck in my finger will haunt me forever because because of how scared I was."

The medics gave Benjapa medication to prevent inflammation and let her go home.