A fisherman drifting at sea for 30 hours while tied to three of his dead crewmates was rescued after their ship sank during a storm in southern Thailand.

Cambodian national Sia Soy was found floating off the coast of Songkhla province with three of his lifeless colleagues on Wednesday evening December 21.

Their trawler, Supsunan, had set sail from Pattani province early December but sank in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand on December 18 - the same day when navy warship

Captain Natthakiat Monkhuntot, chief-of-staff of the Royal Thai Navy Region 2, said: 'We were alerted that the trawler was sinking in the storm, but we could not send help right away because of severe weather conditions.'

A frigate was dispatched to rescue the fishermen the following day.

The casualties were identified as the ship's captain Sommai Siengchok, Sarote Mindo, and Ron Leebrong. One more person was missing, Sia Soy told officials.

The survivor added he roped all four of them together to prevent the waves from separating them. He has been taken to a hospital for treatment.

The rescue came amid deadly storms in southern Thailand and Malaysia, with four-metre-high waves battering vessels caught at sea during the torrential weather.

The HTMS Sukhothai was carrying 105 military personnel to a ceremonial event when water entered its hull and splashed into the electrical system some 20 nautical miles off the Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on December 18 evening.

The leakage disrupted the vessel's controls and power supply leading to a blackout before the ship tilted 60 degrees to starboard and more water flooded in.

Six of the crew have been found dead, 76 have been rescued and 23 remain missing, as of December 23. Officials are focusing on Chumphon province, where they believe ocean currents and prevailing winds will have washed the 23 seamen who remain missing.

Bungling naval chiefs have since admitted that there were not enough life vests on the ship for all the people onboard.

Records show that HTMS Sukhothai was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, in Tacoma, Washington. It was commissioned in 1987 and had been operational for almost 36 years with air defence, sea combat and anti-submarine capabilities.

Thailand is notorious for its corruption, cover-ups and disturbing disregard for health and safety.