Hero angler leaps into dam to save drowning teenager who was cooling off in water

This is the dramatic moment a hero fisherman leapt into a river to save a drowning boy in Thailand.

Pongsathorn Liaothaisong, 30, was fishing with his father at a weir in Buriram province when he noticed the youngster, Song, 14, bobbing up and down in the water on August 4.

He initially thought the teen was just playing, but rushed to his rescue after hearing him cry for help.

The angler, seen in the video wearing a white cap, jumped into the river and carried the struggling boy out of the water. His father helped by dragging both of them back to the riverbank using a rope.

Pongsathorn said: 'I saw the boy raising his hand, so I leapt into the water to help him. However, he sank underwater when I was about to reach him.

'I dived and pulled him up to the surface. He was lucky we had the rope, or it would have taken a long time to rescue him.'

Song was taken to a hospital for treatment.

His mother, Ornsuda Pratesang, 47, Song had sneaked off with his friends to play at the weir.

She said: 'His friends told me he slipped from the edge of the river and fell. He said he lost his strength and almost fell unconscious. I'm relieved his condition isn't serious and that he can be discharged soon.'