A fisherman and his son were found clinging to an oil drum to stay afloat when their boat sank.

Boonserm Saelee, 63, and Suphachok Saelee, 40, set off to sea to catch some fish on their wooden vessel when their net was stuck in corals below in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, on November 8 morning.

When the trawlers dragged it upwards, their boat was tipped over, causing them to capsize.

The father and son drifted 3.1 miles (5 km) off the coast, holding on to a container to survive for three hours before authorities finally found them.

Footage shows rescuers and marine police searching for the fishermen. They boarded jet skis and patrol boats to make the search easier.

They were found an hour later and taken back to shore where their families, who reported they received a phone call from the pair, were waiting.

Boonserm said: 'The wind was not strong yet when we sailed, but our net was snagged by rocks and corals underwater. The oil container saved us, and we floated in the sea, waiting for rescue.'

The fishermen were given health checks but were uninjured. They were assisted to return home.