Philippine Air Force rescue family 'lost at sea for six days'

This is the dramatic moment Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel rescued a family reportedly lost at sea for six days.

PAF's Tactical Operations Group Sulu-Tawi-Tawi (TOG SulTaw) found the family's blue speedboat floating off the southern province of Sulu at around 6:30 pm on July 29.

Seven people, including a six-year-old child, were onboard the small wooden watercraft that had expended all its fuel and was left drifting at sea for several days.

Footage shows the desperate family waving for help upon spotting the rescuers' vessel.

They had set sail from Sitangkai town in Tawi-Tawi province to reach the Port of Luuk in Sulu province when they encountered large waves and strong winds.

TOG SulTaw said in a statement: 'The rescued personalities were drifting and floating in the vast Sulu Sea for six days and five nights without food and water.

'The timely rescue operations of PAF personnel resulted in the saving of lives of two females and five males.'

The family were handed over to the Philippine Coast Guard Sub-Station Pangutaran and the Pangutaran local government on July 30 morning.

The Philippines and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.