'Hero' Thai construction worker Chat Ubonchinda rescues bird-watching Norwegian tourists stuck in mud

Chat lay in the mud to let the elderly tourists climb over him and get free

Chat Ubonchinda soon realises he is unable to simply pull the couple free (YouTube)

A Thai construction worker has been praised for his heroism after he rushed to the aid of two elderly tourists who were stuck deep in mud.

Chat Ubonchinda, 44, saw the elderly Norwegian couple while out fishing in the southern Thai province of Krabi.

The couple had reportedly been bird-watching and were taking photos along the Krabi River when they became stuck in mud up to their thighs.

Chat moored his boat and walked over to the couple, trying to lift them out of the mud before realising it was futile.

He then took their photography equipment to safer higher ground and returned to help the couple, lying down in the mud so they put their body weight onto him and crawl out of the mud.

After helping to free them, Chat then walked back over the mud to his boat and set off once more.

A bystander filmed the entire scene and the video went viral, while the couple tried to find Chat to thank him, the Bangkok Post reports, but when TV Channel finally caught up with him the rescuer said he did not want a reward for aiding people who needed help.