This is the dramatic moment a powerful wave hoisted an inflatable dragon boat vertically into the air as terrified beachgoers clung to their seats.

Royette Mullot and his friends, all wearing life jackets, were aboard the red-and-yellow float when they were struck by the swell at Liwliwa Beach in Zambales, the Philippines.

Footage shows four beach workers wading into the surf to launch the boat, while a colleague on a motorboat begins to tow the nine holidaymakers out to sea on January 4.

Moments later, the breaking wave slammed into the inflatable, causing the bow to skyrocket upwards. The boat then plunged back into the surf, sending two vacationers, buckled into their seats, tumbling into the water.

Royette said: 'We thought we were just going for a relaxing ride, but we ended up being launched into another dimension.

'It felt more like an extreme theme park attraction than a boat trip. It was ten out of ten for the adrenaline, but zero out of ten for my soul, it almost left my body.'