Two fisherman were found dead yesterday (Thu) after they ignored warnings - and ate a deadly PUFFER FISH.

Burmese seamen Chit, 22, and Tan, 29, had been onboard the trawler when they hauled aboard the fatal catch off the coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.

They started preparing the distinctive greyish blue poisonous fish for lunch at around 1pm as captain Wirat Sriwirat, 62, raced over to warn them against it.

But the men continued - first frying the marine creature's eggs then cutting out the meat and seasoning it with salt to dry in the sun.

They devoured the eggs and a few bites of the meat but became almost instantly sick - foaming at the mouth and vomiting violent.

Captain Wirat was forced to radio for help and cut short the ten day fishing trip. He docked the boat last night with paramedics waiting at the shore.

He said: ''I told them not to eat that fish and they ignored me. What more could I have done?

''The Burmese crew caught the fish at about 1pm and cooked it. One man ate a lot and died straight away.

''Another took longer to die, three or four hours. They were vomiting and in pain. There were five Burmese crew but only three ate the fish.''

A third member of the group Suu Kyi, 34, who had only eaten a small amount of the meal was rushed to hospital where he is in a critical condition.