An elderly couple was rescued after they drove their pickup truck through a gushing spillway in Thailand.

The pair reportedly failed to see the warning signs and carried on passing through the rushing torrent in Surin province on September 13.

Passer-by Krit Fortuner was walking by the area when he saw the vehicle stall into the surging waters that trapped the driver and his passenger inside.

Seeing the seniors in danger, he whipped out his phone to call rescuers before the truck was swept away completely.

Rescue volunteers arrived shortly after receiving Krit's call, and set up ropes to stabilise the pickup against the rapids. The team then waded across the stream, fitting the couple with life vests before guiding them to safety on the banks.

More than ten volunteers reportedly took part in the operation. Rescuers said it took almost two hours to tow the pickup truck to dry land.

Krit said: ‘There was a huge warning sign. The couple told me they didn't see it and just continued driving.

‘Luckily I was in the area or the entire pickup truck would have been swept away by the water. I hope this incident sets an example for other drivers to always stay alert.'

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 from May or June until 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.

This year, meteorologists have blamed climate change for the sustained heavy rain, which has been hitting the Thai capital and provinces around the country causing severe floods for several weeks.

Local media reported that the country has this year seen 'an unusually sustained and persistent rainy season'.