A frantic fishermen prayed as he rushed to flee from an enormous waterspout tornado in the Philippines.

The trawlers were catching tuna when storm clouds appeared off the coast of Masbate on September 6.

As they cruised along the fishing grounds, the crew was left terrified when they saw the massive funnel-shaped weather phenomenon.

Footage shows the fishermen working to move away from the rotating vortex. They could be heard shouting prayers and instructions to each other.

Fisherman Angelo Villanueva said: ‘It was one of the terrifying things I have seen in my years of working in the sea.

‘All we could do was ask for guidance that day. We were relieved that we reached home safely.'

Waterspout tornadoes form when wind merges from opposite directions near the water's surface, creating a small area of spin. Warm air at the surface causes the spinning air to rotate faster and it starts to rise – picking up water at the same time and forming the distinctive elephant-funnel shape.

As warm air rises, the cooler air moves in below and then rises, too. Sometimes the air spins so fast that it stretches and a funnel appears from the water to the thunderstorm cloud above.

Waterspouts are generally not dangerous but they can be a risk for aircraft flying through the area and for coral reefs and marine life in the water immediately below. Sailors should also try to avoid waterspouts as the power of the wind can cause damage.

They very rarely damage buildings as they dissipate when they reach land. However, they are dangerous of boats caught in their path or aircraft that fly through them.