A 12ft-long giant sunfish was found dead after it was accidentally caught in a fisherman’s net in the Philippines.

Footage shows children playing on top of the sea creature's body after it died in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental on November 27.

Glenn Amoguis, who lives near the sea, said his neighbour dragged the fish ashore after it was caught in the net.

When locals freed the fish, it was already weak and was found with several wounds near its gills and fins.

They reported it to the local marine centre, but it died an hour later from unknown causes even before the officers arrived.

He said: “Everyone rushed to the water to watch the fish. Some of my neighbours were with their children. We were stopping them to play with it.

“It was the first time that we saw such a huge creature so everyone was excited but it died after an hour.”

Marine biologist Darrell Blatchley said it was the biggest sunfish that he had seen in Davao Gulf and reminds the public to be careful with rare creatures.

He said: “If it was alive, it should have been immediately released and not stepped on or sat on. It shows the complete lack of empathy of the locals to an animal treating it this way.”

The fish was taken by officers from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.

Ocean sunfish, also called Mola Mola, are commonly found in tropical oceans. Their population is now considered vulnerable as they are frequently snagged in fishing nets and are killed by marine trash.

It is one of the heaviest known bony fishes in the world as adults can weigh of up to 1,000 kgs.