A blind elephant swept away by a flash flood was rescued in Thailand.

Footage shows a jumbo struggling to stay afloat amid rising waters as it tried to reach higher ground in Chiang Mai province in the north of the country on October 4.

Animal caretaker Bank Surin spotted the animal and used a paddling boat to reach the animal before guiding it to safety.

The elephant was later identified as a blind female named Mae Boon who was swept away from the sanctuary of the 'Save Elephant Foundation' when bad weather struck.

Bank said: ‘We didn't know at first where the elephant came from but found out it was blind. She is safe now.'

Heavy rains have been ravaging northern Thailand in recent weeks. The seasonal downpours have caused severe floods as rivers burst their banks and submerged towns and villages.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season, which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon, leading to widespread flash floods.