A Japanese tourist was arrested for allegedly trying to steal an ambulance in Thailand.

Kazumi Tamakawa, 49, reportedly jumped inside the medic's 1997 white Toyota Hilux Mighty-X that was left running along Wireless Road in Bangkok on February 18.

The Thai driver, Pisut Chukliang, had left the engine idling to tend to an injured man when Kazumi leapt into the driver's seat and sped away.

However, the suspected carjacker was intercepted by a team of rescue volunteers at the Wong Wian Yai roundabout, where she was detained by police.

Footage shows the Japanese woman screaming 'help me' as she was pinned by authorities against a vehicle. She was heard crying and shrieking 'no' in Japanese while being bound and loaded into a police car for questioning.

Meanwhile, the ambulance was returned to Pisut without any damage or stolen items.

Pisut said he was called at around 7 am to respond to a foreigner injured in a brawl.

He said: 'I was giving the injured man first aid. But after around five minutes, I suddenly heard my truck screeching away and realised it had been stolen.

'I was so shocked. In my 15 years of owning a vehicle, I have never encountered anything like this.'

Authorities said Kazumi was arrested with around 300 baht in cash and a lottery ticket in her pockets.

She was being questioned at the Lumpini Police Station.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Noppapha Thongbo of the Lumpini Police said: 'We need to contact the Japanese Embassy and Immigration Bureau to verify the woman's immigration status before charging her with theft and illegal immigration.

'The suspect was unable to present a visa document to the authorities.'