A fisherman floating in the sea for three days when his boat capsized was rescued in the Philippines.

Elmer Anas was trawling for tuna when his vessel was struck by tidal waves and overturned in Zambales province on September 24.

He clung to his boat with all of his food thrown off to the sea until a passing cargo ship heading to Taiwan spotted him drifting in the disputed South China Sea.

Footage shows Elmer sitting on top of the overturned boat as ship crew called out to him. Another clip showed him swimming in the water to climb up the bigger ship.

Cargo ship crew member Joel Salvador said: ‘He told us his boat crashed on big waves. He had not eaten nor drank water for three days.'

The fisherman caught the orange rubber ring thrown onto him by the crew and was pulled closer to the boat.

He then climbed up a rope ladder to reach onboard where he was given water to drink. His health was checked and fed afterwards.

Disaster Risk Reduction Management officer John de Guia said the fisherman went out to sea despite a gale warning and was caught between large waves.

He said: ‘We have recently alerted local officials about a gale storm warning in the area where he lived. We are coordinating with local officials how the fisherman was not informed about it.'

The fisherman was reportedly healthy and returned to his family by officers from the Philippine Coast Guard.