Chilling footage shows a seagull fighting for its life as an octopus attempted to drag it underwater.
The clip was recorded in southern France, where a stunned witness was able to free the bird from certain death.
Quick-thinking Daniel Narcy is seen holding onto the gull by its beak as the octopus wraps its arms around it.
Mr Narcy described Thursday's incident as "extraordinary" - but said it wasn't the first time it happened.
Posting the video on Facebook, the animal lover, from Saint-Laurent-du-Var, in the Alpes-Maritimes, wrote:“Luckily I helped the gull to fly away, leaving the octopus to sink back into the depths. Magical!”
He stated: “It’s not the first time in the aquarium that we have seen octopuses catch gulls, but it is still rather extraordinary.”
Initially he thought a fight had broken out between two dogs after seeing people on the beach react to the shocking scene.
He told local newspaper Nice Matin : "I got closer and saw a gull, not doing well, between the tentacles of a big octopus, which must weigh more than two kilos.
"It is usually more common to see a gull seize an octopus, than the other way around. It was incredible."
Without his help, the seagull would have drowned, he believes.
Mr Narcy said: "The octopus grip was too strong for it to be able to free itself alone."
After the bird flew away, he said, he stopped to play with the octopus.
