Tourists clung onto a floating pontoon as a large wave hit the shore.

The holidaymakers were on the plastic dock trying to reach a boat when the tide rolled onto the beach in Phuket province, Thailand, on December 24.

Footage shows the island-hoppers who were going on a day trip riding the surf on the floating plastic bridge. Most of them sat down while others at the back of the queue retreated.

One of them fell on the water before the bigger waves crashed before a guide assisted.

Onlooker Soithip Somboon who was sunbathing on the beach when it happened said: 'The waves were huge. A lot of things happened at once, we were all shocked. It seemed calm at first before they had to cross.'

No one was hurt and the locals helped the group board the ferry afterwards.

A floating pontoon is a platform that floats on water to create docks, bridges, or walkways. They are often used for tourists to board speedboats that cannot moor close to the sand.