A family of three drowned while fishing in a reservoir in Thailand.

Ruengrit Rangpia, 73, his wife Chamrat Moonlao, 51, and Chamrat's son Phuwadol Tiamsraku, 20, were bathing in the 16ft-deep channel after fishing, but tragically drowned in Maha Sarakham province on April 9.

Villager Lamun Phuruenglom, 73, was passing through the area and found the family's truck running and their slippers lying along the banks, but no people in sight.

He walked around searching for the vehicle's owner and was horrified to see Chamrat's lifeless body floating in the water.

Police Captain Surachai Damponngam of the Borabue Police Station said police were notified of the discovery at 10 am.

At the scene, officers found the truck and an ice-filled bucket storing fish.

Divers plunged into the water to retrieve Chamrat's corpse. It took more than three hours to locate and pull the two men's remains ashore.

The family's bodies underwent a post-mortem exam and have been returned to their relatives for funeral arrangements.

A relative named Thongchai Boonroong said: 'At 8 am, someone noticed that the truck engine was still on but there were no people around.

'When he walked up to the edge of the reservoir, he several slippers. Further up, there was a woman floating in the water.

He added that Ruengrit had left the house in the morning with the family to work at a field nearby. He claimed eight other people had previously died in the reservoir.

Ruengrit's sister Boonlai Wongchantra, 71, said: 'I left to work at the field at around 5 AM, so I wasn't aware of when Ruengrit left the house.

'While I was at the market later that day, someone called to inform me that my brother and his family had drowned.

'He had remarried and lived with his new wife and stepson after his ex-wife passed away. They often went out together. They probably drowned while cleaning themselves after fishing.'