This is the dramatic moment a drowning couple were rescued by a group of tourists on a passing long-tail boat in Thailand.

The pair had been swimming in the Moei river when they were pushed into the deeper part of the water and experienced difficulties in Tak province on February 19.

A dozens lads from a local sports club were on a day trip when they spotted the couple bobbing up and down in the water and waving their hands.

They initially thought the couple were simply frolicking in the river, but immediately turned around after realising they were drowning.

Footage shows how the group reached out to hoist the struggling couple onto their boat. The pair were brought back to shore and offered their thanks to their rescuers.

Onlooker Chatchai, who was among the group on the boat that rescued the youngsters, said: 'The water currents were quite strong so they couldn't get back to the shore.

'It's lucky that we were passing at that time. It only takes a moment to disappear below the surface and drown if nobody is around.'