A French pensioner who fell from a cliff during a morning walk was rescued in Thailand.

Celou Cairety, 72, was following a narrow trail when he lost his footing and slipped down a slope in a forested area of Phuket on April 4.

The Frenchman tumbled around 40f down the steep terrain and became stuck between large rocks and trees. He was unable to climb back up.

Celou was stranded and injured but managed to call his girlfriend for help. She then contacted the emergency services.

Footage shows the elderly man strapped safely to a stretcher as volunteers used a pulley system to lower him down the mountain to safety.

A volunteer from Kusontham Phuket Foundation said: 'We spent more than four hours with the rescue. It was difficult because of the terrain.'

The team, with the help of Laem Sai Municipality Rescue Unit volunteers, set up the pulley from the spot where Celou was to the foot of the mountain.

Celou was taken to safety at 7 pm, or more than nine hours after he slipped down the cliff, and was rushed to Deebook Hospital.

The Frenchman's injuries were treated, and he is expected to remain in the hospital during recovery.

Phuket is Thailand's largest island. The region has seen a boom in tourism since visa restrictions were lifted last year to revive the struggling economy.