Two American tourists who hired a kayak from their hotel had to be rescued after being washed away from the beach.

Retired government official Dennis Dean Tidwell, 76, and his partner Lyra, 75, were paddling off Koh Chang island when they were battered by high waves in the southern province of Trat on January 11 afternoon.

The pair called for help as the strong currents pushed their kayaks further offshore.

The Navy Maritime Security Center said it received an emergency call at 3:10 pm. Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, where they found the holidaymakers stuck on Koh Suwan island.

Footage shows officers taking the tourists back to the resort using a jet ski. Lyra was given first aid for minor abrasions on her leg and Dennis also received first aid.

Dennis, a former employee at the U.S. State Department's Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour Burea, said the waves were too strong for him to return to the shore outside their hotel.

He added: 'I didn't expect the sea to be so strong. We didn't have the strength to paddle back. I'm so thankful for the lifeguards saving us. We could have been killed out there.'

A rescue team spokesman said: 'From our questioning, the tourists said they kayaked from their hotel to have lunch at Koh Suwan island at around 11 am. However, the waves and winds became stronger and they found they were unable to return to the resort.'

Last week, six Russian and Czech tourists were also rescued from choppy waters off the same island.

The Thai Meteorological Department on Friday had warned of increased rainfall, strong winds, and high waves in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. It said the northeast monsoon and a strong high-pressure system from China will churn up waves of up to 12 feet.