A Chinese tourist drowned after ignoring rough sea warnings to go swimming off the coast of Thailand.

Yuqi Qin, 33, ventured into dangerous waters despite the red flags on the shore signalling hazardous conditions and severe weather in Krabi on Sunday.

The tourist and his friends were paddling near Koh Lanta island when he was struck by towering waves and dragged under the surface.

Search and rescue teams were deployed after the holidaymaker was reported missing at 12 noon.

Footage shows personnel scouring the choppy waters. Divers were unable to carry out an underwater search due to strong currents.

Officers continued the operation until Yuqi's body surfaced two hours later at Tanot Cape, around one kilometre (0.62 miles) from where he disappeared.

Volunteers have collected his body, which was sent to the Koh Lanta Hospital for a post-mortem exam.

Chaiyaphruek Weerawong, chief of the Mu Koh Lanta National Park, said: 'We speculated that the victim was playing in the water with his Chinese friend when the wind was strong, and officials had put up a red flag warning, prohibiting tourists from entering the sea.

‘He might have been dragged by the waves, causing him to drown.

‘An officer from Koh Lanta Police Station will question his friend before contacting his relatives.'

Beach drownings are a recurring safety concern in Thailand, especially in tourist hotspots like Phuket, Pattaya, and Krabi. The deaths often attributed to strong rip currents, lack of swimming skills, and disregard for warning signages.

The waters are most dangerous during the country's rainy monsoon season, when red flags are placed in beaches to warn of dangerous sea conditions.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.