A brave volunteer swam through a filthy canal to rescue a cat struck by a car in Thailand.

The rescuer, Manit Boonprasop, had been assisting flood-stricken villagers in Ang Thong province when a woman approached him asking to save her cat on October 12.

Without hesitation, Manit plunged into the dirty water to reach the black-and-white moggie clinging onto clumps of grass.

He hoisted the docile cat onto his shoulder while continuing to paddle with one hand towards the bank, where the woman was reunited with her beloved pet.

Manit said: 'While my crew and I were loading our boat to prepare for rescue, an auntie approached me and requested to rescue her cat, which had been hit by a car and had fallen into the canal.

'The cat was returned to the owner's arm unhurt.'

Large parts of northeast Thailand have suffered severe floods in recent weeks.

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.

Thailand's Center for Climate Change and Disaster claimed the coming months could see heavier, longer rainfalls, due to 'climate change'.

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

The heavy rain has been compounded by the deluge from Typhoon Noru, which dumped water in the northeast region of the country, causing rivers flowing into the central region to swell.