Hero farmers helped pull an exhausted water buffalo from a ditch where it was trapped.

The men passed by a neighbour in distress after his animal slid down a 12ft-deep pit in Negros Occidental province, the Philippines on May 16.

Together, the good Samaritans tugged the string tied around the creature's body until it was finally out of the hole.

Footage shows the farmers shouting ‘uno, dos, tres' before heaving the rope. Some of them placed wood on the back of the animal as others pulled to act as a wedge.

Neighbour Ronald Enmacino said: ‘The farmer did not need to ask for help. People saw what was happening and jumped in to help without asking for anything in return.'

More than 20 farmers helped in the rescue operation, and after about two hours, the buffalo was saved.

Ronald said: ‘We live in a remote area, and no animal rescuers are nearby. We only have each other to help.'