This is the heartwarming moment a pink bottlenose dolphin stranded on the beach was saved by residents.

Beachgoers noticed the dolphin with light pink patches on its body struggling to swim in the shallow part of the water on the island of Ko Sukon, southern Thailand on November 8.

Sermwit Musem Sadao was walking along the shore with his family when they rushed to help.

Two other dolphins swam around the area appearing to wait for the pink dolphin trapped near the shore.

Sermwit's younger brother first ran up to the animal and tried to push it, but it was heavy so he followed to assist him.

He said: "We had just finished eating lunch in one of the sea-front restaurants and went for a walk when we saw the poor animal.

"I am glad we were able to help it before anything bad happened. I hope it will live a long life in the ocean."

The locals push the heavy animal forward until it was in deeper water and was able to swim.

The animal then flapped its tail to the people as if to say thank you and farewell before swimming further and joining the other dolphins in the pod.

A live dolphin beached on the shore can die within a few hours if they are not helped back to the water.