Hero sailors leaped into the sea to rescue a drowning dog.

The officers spotted the stray pooch struggling to stay afloat near Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi, Thailand on January 3.

Footage shows Lieutenant Sahachat Phumipatpakorn and Petty Officer Theerapath Jantanasot swimming towards the exhausted pooch and saving it with a rubber ring.

The two officers from the Royal Thai Navy guided the canine to the edge of a boat where it was lifted to safety with a rope.

One of the officers Patarasaya Rerkrat said: ‘We did what we could to save the dog that fell into the water.

‘It looked tired so my colleagues jumped to rescue it quickly. We were very careful not to scare it.'

The pooch is believed to have swam from the shore and carried on going until it became too tired, which is when it was seen by the passing seamen. It was given food and allowed to rest on the boat before turning over to an animal shelter.