This is the heartwarming moment a sea turtle was rescued after being found stuck in a pile of floating trash.

The group was on a diving trip when they noticed the marine creature struggling off the coast of Chonburi, eastern Thailand, on February 25.

Footage shows how the creature was moving its flippers back and forth on the surface of the water as it battled to free itself from the tangled mass of fishing line, ropes, plastic pollution and other bits of rubbish.

One of the group reached into the water and pulled the turtle aboard while using a knife to slice through the net entangling it.

The turtle was finally able to move freely again and the diver slowly returned it back to the ocean.

Onlooker Cha Preecha said: ‘This little guy must have been trapped for days before we discovered it. There were marks on its body. I don’t think he would have survived if we hadn’t found him.’