A national catastrophe has been miraculously averted thanks to a lion keeper's swift reflexes.

An animal keeper rescued a child in time before being mauled to death by a lion while on a film set in Saudi Arabia.

Nayef bin Zayed bin Nahit's father, a renowned poet in the Kingdom, told a journalist that "during the filming of national clip that proudly showcases the kingdom's leadership and military troops, my son Nayef was suddenly attacked by the lion. The coach was there as a precautionary measure in case something sudden or unexpected would happen.

"We ventured because the scene required both Nayef and the lion. We were fortunate to have the coach with us who saved my kid at the last moment as I stood there drowning in my own tears," he added.