A father and son drowned while washing their car in fast flowing river following heavy rain Indonesia.

Takbir, 37, and Rafa Azka Putra, 8, were scooping up water to clean the vehicle when the boy was swept away by the powerful currents.

The horrified father plunged into the treacherous waters to save his son, but was dragged away from the riverbank himself.

They were washed away around a mile downstream, where rescue volunteers found them unconscious in the Rongkong River in South Sulawesi, on March 31.

Footage shows the pair being rushed to the Sabbang Health Centre in an ambulance.

Medics performed CPR, but failed to revive the pair. Police confirmed their deaths on Tuesday, April 1.

Iptu Jusman, chief of the Sabbang District Police, said: 'It is true that there were victims swept away and drowned in the Rongkong River. Two people died.

'Takbir headed to the Rongkong River near his in-laws' house to wash their car. He was with his two children and a brother-in-law. While washing the car, they decided to bathe in the river. However, Rafa was suddenly swept away by the current.

'One of the relatives heard a scream for help from Takbir as he was trying to save his son. He tried to help but the strong current prevented him from reaching Takbir. He ran back to the village to ask for help from residents.'

The family have collected Takbir and Rafa's bodies for a funeral. They declined to have a post-mortem exam performed and have 'accepted the deaths as an accident'.