A drowning boy was saved after falling from an inflatable toy in a swimming pool - just yards away from his parents eating dinner.

Marvel Srisongkram, 5, was trying to climb up a pony floater with his friend when the boys fell off balance and plunged into the 4ft deep water in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand, on April 20 at 6:21 pm.

The white rubber ring around his body slipped off and went unnoticed while the other boy swam to the edge of the pool, unaware that he had already been drowning.

Heartstopping footage shows the youngster flailing below the water, with the adults and his friends unaware of his drowning.

Marvel kicked and punched, struggling to float back to the surface but to no avail until his 14-year-old brother Krittin saw him 30 seconds later, and his father Sukon rushed to save him.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows Marvel being pulled up to the surface, looking very weak after being under the water for a while.

Dad Sukon said: 'The incident happened when I talked to my friend at the edge of the swimming pool for less than a minute. I always kept an eye on them before that.

'My elder son shouted 'dad, Marvel is drowning', so I swiftly picked him up from the bottom of the pool.

'I quickly attempted to administer first aid to Marvel, but he was unconscious. 

'I asked my friend to help, who grabbed Marvel and shook him, causing him to cough out water once.'

When Marvel went deeper into the water, a large yellow inflatable concealed him from the adults' views and went unnoticed before the teenager saw him.

The father added: 'He regained consciousness and breathed heavily, but his eyes were still bulging, and he couldn't speak.

'My friend shook him again until he coughed out more water, making Marvel breathe more easily and nod in response.'

When Marvel responded, he was rushed to the hospital and survived.

Sukon added: 'I took my son to the hospital, with my friend holding Marvel and shaking him again, causing him to cough out more water and respond better.

'During the trip, Marvel coughed up water again, totalling four times that day.

'I asked Marvel how he felt and if he could breathe, to which he told me he could breathe but felt some pain.'

Medics found water in the boy's lungs after an X-ray scan and had to pump the water out. He stayed at the hospital for two days until he was better.

Sukon added: 'He has already recovered and has been discharged.

'I hope this serves as a caution to parents that swim tubes are not always safe, and they should learn to perform first aid if they can.'