This is the dramatic moment a family and their three pet dogs were rescued by helicopter after spending six days lost in a forest.

Wiroj Chaichana, 45, and his wife Dang, 45, along with Thongrat Kanyaprasit, 46, and her Panya Noi-in, 13, were foraging for wild mushrooms through the dense woodland in Phitsanulok, central Thailand last Wednesday morning (May 12).

However, their relatives alerted the police when they failed to return home with their three Aspin pooches and they were declared missing on Thursday (May 14).

The National Park officers began searching the following morning but spent two days without any sign on them.

However, on Sunday (May 17) an army helicopter spotted smoke from a small signal fire next to a stream, around 10km from the family's village.

The officers sent soldiers with food supplies to stay overnight with them while they were planning the rescue which took place this morning (May 18).

The whole group including the pooches were all exhausted and were rushed to the hospital for check ups - but they were all found to be healthy.

Dang, one of those rescued, said they had become lost after sheltering from a sudden downpour which caused them to lose track of the path they had taken.

She said: "While we were on our way out there was a storm that caused us to run for shelter.

"After the rain we realised that we had left our original track and we had no idea where we were, so we started wandering to find a stream and we ate wild fruit.

"Luckily my husband had a lighter with him so we were able to light a fire to warm ourselves. That was what saved us, because the officers saw the smoke from our bonfire."

Dr Jakrit Somboonchan, director of W a n g Thong Hospital, said the four people would be kept in hospital for a day or two for observation.