This is the frightening moment a zoo keeper narrowly avoids serious injuries after being attacked by a hippo while trying to break up a fight between it and another hippo.

The unusual incident reportedly occurred at the Changsha Ecological Zoo in Hunan, southern China.

An unnamed visitor captured the moment two hippos began fighting behind half-closed doors inside their enclosure as one of them seemingly tried to bite the other one.

The brawling forces the doors fully open, with the two wild animals continuously running around inside.

All of a sudden, their male keeper comes running outside and trips and falls to the ground as one of the seemingly angered hippos comes chasing after him.

The animal had apparently turned on him as he tried to break up the fight when he entered to feed them.

Bystanding tourists begin screaming as the hippo opens its giant jaws at the man as if it is about to bite the fallen keeper.

Fortunately, it seems to decide against hurting the man at the last second and turns away, allowing him to get up and leave.

Zoo staff later confirmed that the keeper was not injured.