This is the heartwarming moment a boat captain rescued a green sea turtle entangled in a fishing net in Thailand.

Nathakorn Lookmai, 22, the captain of the tour boat 'Monthathip', was sailing with his friend Purachet Muentongwaree, 31, from Ao Maya to the Phi Phi islands in Krabi province on May 25.

As they zipped past a small pile of rubbish floating at sea, they noticed something paddling in the water.

When they drove closer, they found a turtle hatchling thrashing to break free from a ghost fishing net.

The pair pulled the green sea turtle on board and used a knife to cut the net entangling its flippers.

They said the turtle was healthy and only had a minor bruise on one of its hind flippers. The marine creature has been released into the sea.

Nathakorn said: 'I hope tourists and fishermen are careful with what they discard into the sea. What they consider harmless rubbish can be deadly to marine animals.'