Schoolchildren practised arm strokes and flutter kicks during a free swimming lesson to prevent drownings during typhoons in Vietnam.

Footage shows students as young as nine-years-old waving their arms in the air and stretching their legs as a warm-up in Vinh Long province on February 23.

In another clip, the kids were seen launching themselves across the pool with goggles on.

An instructor watched them closely on the 3ft-deep pool for the training.

Nguyen Khanh said: 'They were given free swimming lessons to prevent drownings. The children are equipped with basic skills to prevent accidents too. Each course has evaluation to ensure the children can swim.'

Vietnam is battered yearly by typhoons and monsoon storms, with its coast along the South China Sea. Many government and non-government organisation efforts were initiated to teach children to swim as the country records more than 2,000 kids under 16 years old dying from drowning each year.