Seventy-three tourists were rescued from a speedboat that capsized off a Thai island amid strong waves - just a after a British tourist is believed to have drowned on a sunken ship.

The passengers were onboard the Bandaya 19 when it was battered by rough seas while travelling from Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta islands in Krabi province on December 24.

The churning waters breached the boat's hull, causing it to sink off Bubu island as panicked tourists donned life vests before jumping into the ocean.

Thai Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre received a report and dispatched rescuers to the scene. The Navy's 491st Special Warfare Squadron officers rushed to the distressed vessel, where dozens of passengers wearing life vests were floating on the ocean.

All people onboard the boat - including three children and four crew members - were safely rescued and transported back to shore on the Ploy Siam 559 rescue boat.

It came just a day after a liveaboard diving ship with 13 tourists and five crew onboard sank near the Surin Islands archipelago - both on the same stretch of the country's west coast with the Andaman Sea - leaving Millie Young, 57, from Brighton and the ship's cook Samniang Chaichana, 67, both missing presumed dead.

All ships in the area had been warned to avoid setting sail due to the rough conditions.

Recounting the harrowing experience, Spanish tourist Montse Guerra, 28, said mother Margarita, 58, injured her arm in the accident and her boyfriend David Manzano Lopez, 30, was also hurt.

She said: 'We left Koh Lipe island at 9 am. There were 73 passengers, including two children who couldn't have been more than 10 years old.

'About an hour into the journey, things went awry — the driver was speeding, and the sea was rough. A wave hit the front, causing it to break. Water started entering, and we were told to move to the back for balance.

'Some passengers were bailing water while a lady climbed to the back, shouting for a knife. When handed a blade, she cut the roof canvas. At that point, I didn't fully grasp the severity.

'The boat began flooding, and as we grabbed our backpacks from the floor, the water had covered the seats. I jumped early, focused only on reaching the rescue boat, luckily arriving minutes before our boat sank completely.

'Meanwhile, my partner, David Manzano Lopez, next to me, struggled to jump due to the panic. My mother and stepfather stayed on the sinking boat, assisting others to jump.

'On the rescue boat, we watched our boat sink with our belongings. Thankfully, our waterproof bag with phones, some money, and passports stayed afloat. Others lost everything.'

Montse said they were taken to Koh Lipe island and provided with food, drinks, and clothes.

Authorities said five passengers were treated for swallowing seawater, one needed stitches, while 10 others had minor injuries - including Montse's mother Margarita, 58, who suffered painful bruises, seen in the video, after passengers scrambled for safety on the sinking boat.

They were taken to the Koh Lipe Hospital and later allowed to return to their hotels.

Montse said: 'Police arrived for damage reports. The speedboat company only refunded our trip and took us to the Phuket hotel, not taking responsibility for economic expenses, time, or emotional losses.

'Fortunately, it ended as a scare, attributed to the company's negligence. Grateful everyone is safe, with only material damages.'