This is the dramatic moment a tourist was rescued from rough seas after he allegedly ignored red warning flags at a beach in Thailand.

The holidaymaker waded into choppy waters despite the flags warning of dangerous sea conditions at Karon Beach in Phuket, on Sunday.

Bystanders screamed for help when they saw him lose his balance and be swept under large waves. A lifeguard rushed in with a surfboard, paddling to reach the distressed swimmer.

Footage shows him battling against large waves as other tourists watched from the shore. He managed to reach the struggling beachgoer and pulled him onto the surfboard.

Onlooker Apinya Saisamorn said: 'On that day, I was going to film my children playing on the beach when I saw the incident and decided to capture it.

‘I did not know where the tourist came from, but as seen in the video, the lifeguard managed to carry out the rescue safely.

‘I want to ask tourists visiting during the off-season not to violate the red flag warnings to go swimming. It is dangerous because there have been several drowning cases.

‘I also want lifeguards to prepare their jet skis to be ready for use in the water.

‘When I went to the beach the day before yesterday, I saw a ten-year-old foreign child about to drown.

‘People on the beach had to get help from a nearby jet ski rental as rescue jet skis were not available.'

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.