Tourists assisted in releasing 125 critically endangered hawksbill turtles back into the sea in Thailand.

Heartwarming footage shows the tiny creatures seemingly racing across the sand in Phang Nga on January 31.

Kriangkrai Porcharoen, chief of Mu Koh Surin National Park, coordinated the release with park officers and visiting holidaymakers.

The release followed careful monitoring of the nest after the mother sea turtles laid their eggs on the shore on December 4.

On the morning of January 31, park staff noticed the hole where the eggs had been laid had collapsed significantly by 8:05 am, prompting closer observation.

By 5:10 pm, they observed the sand continuing to sink, leading them to remove the surface layer.

Upon inspection, they discovered 125 hatchlings struggling to emerge from the hole.

Five of the 132 eggs were broken, and two hatchlings did not survive after 62 days of incubation.

Hawksbill turtles are classified as critically endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. They are so named because of their pointed, beak-like mouths that they use to find food in small cracks and crevices.

Hawksbill turtles are renowned for their beautiful shells, which have also made them prime targets for poachers engaged in the tortoiseshell trade. Their population is also threatened by habitat destruction, egg collection, and pollution.

Adult hawksbill turtles typically reach 3ft (1 metre) and weigh around 180lbs (82kg), with the largest ever recorded weighing 280lbs (127kg).