This is the heartwarming moment a kitten was rescued after dropping out from a moving pickup truck in Thailand.

Unknown to its owners, the feline had hitched a ride on the vehicle driving along Satun province on November 4.

When the pickup stopped at a red light, the pet cat hopped down from under the cargo bed and wandered next to the truck's wheels.

Dashcam footage shows how the animal, unaware of the road's dangers, milled about the truck's rubber tyres at risk of being crushed.

In his haste to warn the pickup truck's passengers, driver Wirasak Yadam stepped out of his car barefooted and tapped on their window to inform them of the furry hitchhiker before they could run it over.

As other cars sped by, the group patiently coaxed out the moggie after it leapt back into its hiding place. They spent around a minute stopped on the road before finally rescuing the creature, which was lying next to a spare tyre under the pickup truck.

The pet owners thanked Wirasak and his mum for their help, saying the cat was one they kept at home, and it had followed them outside that day.

Wirasak said: 'The weather is cold these days so the cat might have been looking for a warm place to sleep. Pet owners should check their cars before going on an errand outside.'