A Canadian girl drowned after being swept away by waves during a family holiday on Thai resort island Phuket.

Joanna Premanantham, 10, and her family swam in rough waters off Kata Beach when they were caught in strong currents on Thursday afternoon.

Lifeguards plunged into the sea and pulled five of them to safety, but failed to reach Joanna who vanished under the surface.

Divers, lifeguards and rescue crews scoured the waters after Joanna's distraught father, Jacob Premanantham, 54, called for help.

The desperate three-hour search ended when the girl's body washed ashore at 7:50 pm local time. Rescuers said she was dressed in a floral top and black elastic shorts, and was foaming at the mouth when she was pulled onto the shore.

Heartbreaking footage shows Joanna's family sobbing in anguish as they hugged the girl's lifeless body on the sand after confirming her identity.

Police Captain Pheerawat Yodtor, Karon Police Station investigator, said: ‘We assigned rescuers to transport her body to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a post-mortem exam to determine the exact cause of her death.'

Authorities said the family of six arrived in Phuket on Wednesday. They were recently in Malaysia and planned to stay in Thailand until October 4.

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.