An American tourist was arrested after allegedly jumping from a ferry in Thailand.

The passenger, Joseph Paul, 36, sparked panic when he plunged from a vessel headed from the coast of Pattaya to Koh Lan island.

But just minutes after the ferry departed, Joseph was said to have walked toward the bow, ignoring warnings from shocked onlookers as he jumped overboard and swam away on October 9.

Other passengers notified the captain, who turned the ferry back to rescue him, but the American reportedly paddled farther as he waved to them.

The frustrated operator called the emergency services, who pulled Joseph onto a rubber boat. However, he reportedly jumped back into the water three more times before they restrained him.

Footage shows officers hauling the American onto a police truck as he begged them: 'Don't leave me. Guys, don't leave me. Seriously. I'm worried. I'm fully worried. I wanna go to a hospital, I'm crazy.

'Take me to the hospital. I wanna go to the hospital. I take medication.

'I'm a US citizen, I want immigration police.'

He claimed he was staying at Treetops Pattaya an had wanted to swim to Koh Lan on his own. He added that he 'didn't kill those girls'.

A police spokesman said: 'We are skeptical of his claims because of his unusual behaviour. He was taken to a hospital for a check-up.'