The reptile is a Nile crocodile – the largest of its species.

A South African zookeeper narrowly escaped being attacked by a 15-foot crocodile in his enclosure. The attack occurred on Sunday as the experienced reptile expert was giving a demonstration to dozens of visitors at the Crocodile Creek theme park in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, local media reported. As shown in a video that went viral on social media, the unidentified hunter was poking the animal with a stick when it suddenly lunged at him. The man hoped the reptile would turn its head and bite the stick.

Instead, the crocodile clamped its jaws around the zookeeper’s waist.

The reptile is the Nile crocodile, the largest of the species with the most powerful bite in the world.

There were two crocodiles in the enclosure and a second, slightly smaller crocodile ran to join the other reptile and attack the man.

Visitors began screaming for help until the crocodile finally let go, allowing zookeepers to stand up and run to safety.

Multiple social media users posted the video, in which the South African Response Force said on its Facebook page that the zookeeper was injured in the leg.

The company further stated on Facebook that the park received a call for help from a visitor to the Reptile Park at around 14:48 local time. “Response officers were dispatched immediately and upon arrival were advised that the injured man had been privately transported to a medical facility.”

A visitor who was in the park at the time told the South African response team that they were watching a show when the crocodile attacked the trainer. The man managed to break free and escape the fence.