A Burmese worker diving for clams survived being stabbed in the neck by a stingray in Thailand.

The villager Kyi had invited his friends to hunt clams at the Mae Klong River in Ratchaburi province on May 3.

The group rowed to the middle of the stream where they had laid out traps and plunged into the water hoping to bring home some seafood for dinner.

While they were rummaging in the water, a stingray swam toward the worker's face and blocked his view. When he tried to lift it out of the way, the creature suddenly flicked its tail, stabbing his neck with its sharp barb.

Upon seeing a cloud of blood streaming from the wound, the man's alarmed colleagues pulled him ashore, bringing the 50-cm stingray along with them.

A rescue team arrived and found the victim in a dazed state. They administered first aid and took him to the Bang Pong Hospital for further treatment.

The man's friend said they usually placed fish traps to collect clams in the river during their lunch break which they took home to their families.

The stingray was identified as a roughback whipray, locally known as a Mae Klong stingray since they are commonly found in the river. They can grow up to 60cm long.

The stingray that stabbed the man has been turned over to authorities 'to check if it is dangerous.'