A wild crocodile seen swimming on Boracay beach sparked panic among tourists in the Philippines.

Footage shows the reptile riding the large tides in cloudy weather while onlookers shouted from the shore in Boracay, Aklan province, on July 25.

The people were shouting: ‘Crocodile! Oh no, there's a crocodile! Look over there!'

Onlooker Lorevince Baldevia Juan said: 'We usually swim there, so we were really scared when we saw the crocodile. Now, no one wanted to go near the water.'

Wildlife officers later arrived to catch and evacuate the crocodile from the tourist destination and return it to its habitat. It was unhurt.

Local authorities said the crocodile was lost and swept into the island during the onslaught of typhoon Gaemi.

Boracay is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world who come to enjoy its natural beauty and various recreational activities such as snorkelling, diving, kiteboarding, and windsurfing.