This is the dramatic moment a drone rescued a group of children trapped in floodwaters by hoisting them to safety.

Three youngsters became stranded in rising waters after herding cows and crossing the Ba River in Ia Tul commune, Gia Lai, Vietnam, on July 3.

Locals quickly called for help around midday after spotting the trio.

Tran Van Nghia, a farmer renting nearby land, responded using his remote-controlled agricultural drone.

Footage shows a young girl gripping a rope tied to the unmanned aerial vehicle as it lifts her from the water and lowers her safely to shore. The aircraft then returned to retrieve another child.

Authorities said the remaining kid was rescued by boat.

Nghia said the children were around 50 metres from the riverbank, and the current was too strong for anyone to swim across.

He noted that the drone had a permitted load of 50kg, and he was confident it could lift the children safely.

The kindhearted rescuer added: 'I had to tie more ropes to the base of the plane so the children could wrap themselves around themselves. Luckily, I and the people around were able to bring them safely to shore.'