This is the shocking moment a crocodile suddenly turns and attacks its keeper in South Africa as the man scratches its head with a wooden pole.

The handler reportedly sustained serious injuries to his leg in the attack, which took place during a live show in front of visitors.

The incident took place at the Crocodile Creek in Greylands, with the keeper being rushed to hospital. On Sunday afternoon, 16th March, after sustaining serious injuries, according to local media reports.

The nail-biting footage shows the handler stroking and prodding the crocodile with the stick.

The large reptile appears to be enjoying it as it gently opens its huge jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth as if to communicate that the backscratching is agreeable to it.

But as the man then reaches out to stroke the back of its head. The apex predator suddenly lunges at him, catching his T-shirt in its powerful jaws.

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The video then shows the man’s leg clamped hard between the animal’s jaws as a second crocodile appears to be getting interested in the potentially easy meal.

The people watching can be heard shouting profusely, with the man eventually managing to escape and making his way over to the side of the enclosure while repeatedly saying “sh*t” as the footage ends.

The owner of Crocodile Creek, named only as Mr Watson in local media, said that the handler, who has not been named. Is currently at Victoria Hospital in stable condition and that doctors have managed to stop the bleeding.

Watson said: “While I am happy that the employee managed to escape and is currently stable, we are concerned about the violation of protocol. When someone goes into the pond, we require them to have another employee standing by to monitor the situation.”