An drunk Thai man ventured into the sea after a heated argument with his girlfriend - only to later be discovered asleep on a buoy.

Arnon Srirue, 29, stormed out of his home in Pattaya after quarreling with his girlfriend. He rode his car and drove away, with his mum Bangorn Tiabrit, 49, and his lover following him out of worry.

They searched through the Bang Lamung district and eventually found Arnon drinking on the shores of the city's beach. However, tempers flared again, and the couple found themselves caught in another verbal fight.

Bangorn said: 'Arnon and his girlfriend had been arguing since they were at home. When he left, I was worried something would happen to him, so his girlfriend and I decided to search.'

Arnon reportedly became angry when his lover demanded to see footage from his dashcam.

Fed up, the inebriated man walked towards the sea, telling them he wanted to end his life.

As he waded into the water, his girlfriend and mother failed to stop him, fearing they would drown as it was too dark. They called the Pattaya City Police Station, and a rescue team was dispatched to the beach at 5 AM on May 11.

Thai and foreign tourists witnessed the dramatic scene unfold as rescuers combed the sea for Arnon while his worried mum sat on the sand, seemingly in a daze.

After more than an hour, they found the drunk local unconscious but unharmed, lying on a buoy some 100 feet from the coast. They pulled him onto their rubber boat and brought him safely ashore.