Heroic locals saved a drowning tourist who fell from a rented jet ski in Thailand.

Dramatic footage shows rescuers swimming towards the struggling tourist who had plunged into the water and was struggling to stay aflow following the fall from the yellow machine in Chonburi province on March 18.

Onlooker Wannipa Chanduaykit said she was walking along the beach with her family when she spotted a figure bobbing up and down in the water.

She initially thought the person was simply playing, but upon zooming in on her phone, she realised he was drowning and needed help. She raced to nearby police officers to inform them of the situation.

Wannipa said: 'I was far away so I didn't see him fall from the jetski. When I zoomed in, I saw that he was flailing his arms and drowning, so we ran to the police to find someone who can help.

'There was also a blue boat passing by, but they didn't see him. In the end, three soldiers jumped into the sea to rescue him.'

Locals rescued the man and he was treated on the beach before being taken to hospital to be checked.