A loyal pet dog cried on a riverbank after its owner drowned saving his life.

The white pooch named Nova was walking alongside a dam with its owner Kling Srikaew, 61, to catch fish when the animal slipped and fell into the water in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand on September 1.

As the raging currents swept the white Aspin pooch further away, pet owner Kling ran along the side them jumped into the water to push the animal back to safety but he failed to climb out himself.

Nova barked for help while locals rushed to call the rescue team who took three hours diving before discovering the old man’s lifeless body.

Off-duty police officer Banjong Leudlam said: ‘I was cutting grass along the paddy field when I saw the pair walking by the dam area to catch fish.

‘I watched it all happen. It was very fast because the recent storms filled the dam. The old man saved the dog but he did not come up from the river so I called the rescue team for help.

‘The dog was crying on the riverbank while he waited for his master to return. But he never did. I feel sorry for the dog.’

The old man’s body was retrieved and taken to the hospital for a post-mortem examination as officers wanted to ascertain the cause of death.

Neighbours placed candles and incense around the area where Kling was drowned as religious beliefs suggest that it would help appease the dead’s soul.

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are in the middle of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts until October or November. Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods which cause rivers to flow faster and become dangerous.