A DAD and his two young sons were left stranded at sea for 16 hours after their jet ski capsized off the coast of Thailand.

The 50-year-old Frenchman and his sons, five and seven, were “pale” and “exhausted after swallowing a lot of seawater” when they were finally rescued.

A dad and his two sons went missing off the coast of Thailand Credit: Khaosod TV

The trio endured a night on the waves after their jet ski broke down Credit: Khaosod TV

All three were taken to hospital for checks but were discharged shortly afterwards, local government official Amorn Chomchoey told AFP.

The unnamed dad had rented the jet ski for a 45-minute ride on Koh Samui, one of Thailand’s most popular tourist islands.

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They set off at around 5pm on Thursday, but alarm bells started ringing when the jet ski failed to return at the agreed time.

Locals quickly launched a desperate search, taking speedboats and other jet skis into the treacherous waters around Koh Samui and nearby Koh Phangan.

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The victims were rushed to hospital to be checked over Credit: Khaosod TV

The boys’ mum and sister were waiting on the beach for them to return Credit: Khaosod TV

But the search was called off later that night – leaving the family to spend the night adrift at sea.

They were finally spotted at around 10am the following day by a team of rescuers.

The dad said that rough waves had struck the jet ski, causing its engine to stall and leaving them stranded.

Alarming footage of the rescue shows one of the boys sitting on the front of the jet ski, with much of the vehicle submerged beneath the waves.

His dad can be seen frantically waving at the rescuers as they approach.

One rescuer can be heard shouting: “Calm down” and “They survived,” before helping one of the boys onto a rescue boat.

Video also shows rescuers giving the exhausted family much-needed water after their terrifying ordeal at sea.

Fortunately, both children were wearing life jackets.

Local news outlet Nation Thailand reported that the boys’ mother and older sister had been desperately waiting for the trio to return.

It was also reported that the father described himself as an experienced jet ski driver.

However, the jet ski operator told other local media the family appeared to have travelled beyond the area permitted under their rental agreement.

Despite the terrifying ordeal, the family remained in Thailand and continued their holiday.

This come after a champion powerlifter was killed in a jet ski accident while on holiday in Spain.

Jeremy Paynter was riding on the watercraft with his partner when the tragic incident occurred.

The jet ski tipped over and he was unable to climb back aboard after helping his partner back up.

Paynter was eventually pulled onto nearby rocks but unable to be revived by emergency services.