This is the terrifying moment a giant funnel-shaped waterspout formed in the sea in Indonesia.

Zimmy Andrean, 32, was travelling on a small boat with friends when the clouds turned grey as a storm approached them off the coast of Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province, November 17.

Soon after, the tall swirling column became visible from their boat so they sped away from the waterspout.

Zimmy said: "At that time my friends and I were crossing to Tanipah village using a small boat in the afternoon. We were quite far away but it was huge and the wind was strong."

The fisherman added that the waterspout started small but quickly grew into a violent swirl converging from the sea to the dark clouds.

Zimmy said: "We were scared. We all panicked and decided that we leave the area as soon as possible or we could all get hurt."

The group was able to reach the nearest shore in the village without any injuries before the waterspout dissipated amid a heavy downpour of rain.

Waterspouts are intense columns of swirling tornado clouds that form over a body of water.

They are most commonly found in subtropical areas and disappear shortly after they come into contact with land.

Scientists believe they are formed when pockets of warm air near the water surface rise suddenly.

Cooler air is then sucked into the low-pressure air, which picks up water and rises towards the clouds in a rotating motion.