A tourist left drifting in the sea after his jet ski overturned was rescued by passing fishermen.

The middle-aged man - only identified as a Chinese holidaymaker - was spotted by a fishing crew floating off the coast of Patong beach in Phuket province, Thailand on June 12 afternoon.

Footage shows the foreigner wearing a yellow-green life vest as waves swayed him on the surface beside the jet ski.

One of the good Samaritans from the oncoming boat jumped into the water to assist the tourist onboard while his submerged vessel was towed back to shore.

Local Amnuay Thongsom, who was on the boat with the fishermen, said: ‘He was from China. We took him back to shore and helped him back to his hotel. He was tired but overall safe and uninjured.'

It was unclear how the jet ski overturned, but Amnuay said he might have been battered by choppy seas and lost control.

She said: ‘Maybe he crashed because of the big waves. He was lucky he was not hurt.'