This is the dramatic moment tourists caught in a rip current were rescued by lifeguards at a beach in Thailand.

The woman and her two daughters, aged 10 and 12, were swimming along Patong Beach in Phuket when a strong current dragged them out to sea on Thursday afternoon.

Lifeguards blew their whistles in warning as they saw the family drift out of the safe zone. Upon seeing the trio struggling under the waves, they launched a rescue using boards, floats, and a jet ski.

Footage shows officers pushing the youngsters and their mother back to the shallows.

A rescuer said: 'The mother and her children were swimming in the safe zone, but the strong current pulled them into a red-flagged area with a rip tide, making it impossible to get back to shore.

'We urge all tourists to obey the warning flags and remain within the designated swimming areas for their safety.'

A rip current is a fast-moving flow of water surging away from the shoreline, often cutting through breaking waves. It is one of the leading hazards for swimmers, capable of swiftly dragging unsuspecting people into dangerous waters.

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.