Police were called to rescue a pet shop owner who was being strangled by a 20ft python.
Terry Wilkins was attacked by the huge snake as he cleaned out its cage at Captive Born Reptiles in Newport in the US state of Kentucky.
But quick-thinking police officers grabbed the snake's head and uncoiled it from the victim's neck.
They managed to prise the animal from around his body and put it back in its cage, local media reported.
Melissa McElfresh, who was in the shop when the python attacked, described the scene as "a horror movie in real life".
She told WLWT5: "[It's] probably the most scariest thing I've ever seen in my life and I'm still in shock over it."
Mr Wilkins was taken to hospital after falling unconscious but is expected to make a full recovery, according to police.
Officers said the animal was a breeding snake that was not used to being handled but the shop owner had not breached any safety laws.