A hero passerby swam through a neck-deep dirty pond to save a drowning dog.

Villager Wanna Napchimplee was walking home with her husband when they heard the pooch crying in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, on December 28.

The weary dog struggled to stay afloat and was unable to swim towards safety as its feet were caught on thick grass and lilies.

To save the creature, Wanna's partner waded into the dirty water and used a knife to cut the grass off the pooch's feet.

Footage shows the local reaching for the dog in the deep water. He pulled away the foliage and realised its limbs were caught on the thick plants.

Wanna said: ‘We couldn't just leave the dog there. But the water was deep so we had to be careful.'

When the dog was freed, he ran up to the ground and was given some food and water.

Wanna added: ‘The dog was not hurt. We are hoping to find a new home for it soon but he will stay with us until somewhere permanent comes along.'