A schoolboy tragically drowned while playing with his friends near a reservoir in Thailand.

Montree Pok, 6, from Cambodia, had been running near the edge of the artificial pond used as part of a flood control project in Chonburi province on October 5 afternoon.

However, he reportedly slipped on the wet concrete slope of the reservoir lined with moss and algae.

Police Captain Newin Suntawanit of the Huay Yai Police Station said cops were informed of the incident at 3 pm.

He said: 'After receiving the report, we coordinated with rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, Pattaya City, and water rescue workers to save the boy.'

Heart-wrenching footage shows Montree's mother Dao Chuan, 36, and father Miak Pok, 40, hysterically as divers plunged into the 30ft deep pool.

The rescue team soon resurfaced carrying their son's limp body found at the bottom of the reservoir.

Dao's friend, who was not named in reports, said Montree had sneaked out of the house while his mother was cooking in the kitchen.

She said: 'I thought the children were just playing in front of the house until a group of kids ran to tell me that Montree had slipped and fallen into the Kaem Ling reservoir.'

Watcharpong Anosri, 47, a reservoir cleaner, said the children had run to him breathless asking for help to save Montree.

He said: 'When I arrived, the boy was struggling to keep himself afloat. He sank before my eyes. I called the rescuers, but he had already drowned.'

Police said they will review the CCTV footage to verify the cause of the drowning.

Montree's body was taken to the Bang Lamung Hospital and will be handed over to relatives for a funeral.