Dozens of rowers were rescued when their long-tail boat sank in the middle of a race in Thailand.

The crew was paddling furiously along a lake in Uthai Thani province when their boat named 'Hongnakorn' began to sink in the water on June 18.

Footage shows how the contestants in yellow were leading the race before their boat was swallowed by the lake. They clung onto the sunken boat as rescuers brought them ashore following the rowing fail.

One of the crew members named Ap said: 'The boat sank shortly after the race started. It was difficult to hold onto. Around 15 people almost drowned. The waves were higher than the sea, and the rescue boat was slow because they weren't ready.'

The contest organisers have denied being unprepared and said the rescue boats had difficulties due to strong winds.

There were no reports of injuries or casualties.