Cowardly passengers watched schoolchildren drowning in a river before another youngster jumped in to save them.

The kids were onboard a ferry when one of them - wearing a blue shirt - slipped off the wooden vessel in Ayutthaya province, Thailand on February 8 afternoon.

His panicked friend saw him plunge into the water and despite being not a strong swimmer, he followed suit to save the lad.

But like his friend, he ended up struggling to stay afloat as they clung to each other in the deep water.

The two boys remained in the river fighting for their lives in front of dozens of onlookers - too afraid to help - until another hero youngster decided to swim and pull the rope from the boat towards them.

Footage shows the drowning youngsters as onlookers all wearing face masks stood idly by. The quick-thinking lad who helped them swam back to the water to take their school bags that had also fallen into the river.

A proud teacher from the Pompetch Community School said: 'What he showed was bravery. It's not easy to put yourself in a dangerous situation to help your peers.'

The young boy in black shirt and pants that helped the drowning students was later identified as Pichayuth Prachuabmoh.

However, some locals have criticised the bystanders for their apparent inaction and cowardice in the face of danger.

Teachers said the boys were all safe after pulling themselves back into the boat with a rope. They were eventually helped into the pier after the captain have docked the ferry.