This was the moment shocked fisherman wrestled with a 27ft long python after it wrapped itself around of the men's ankle.

Villagers were walking across the banks of a stream in West Sumatra, Indonesia, on November 24, trying to catch eels when one of them mistook the snake for a log and stepped on it.

The angry reptile lashed out and sparked a frantic battle with six men all grappling with the 100kg beast. One resident, Tan Galuang, said the snake was even wrapped round one man's ankle during the fracas.

He said: ''I found the snake first of all. I walked on it. I thought it was a log. I was shocked. There were six men all trying to fight it.

''The snake was wrapped around my friend's leg and we quickly released it.

''We were trying to hold the snake's mouth to stop it from biting anybody. It was more than eight metres long, 25cm in diameter and weighed more than 100kg.

''We were only looking for fish, but the snake is like the grand prize. My religion forbids me from eating the snake, so I could not make a meal from it.''

Locals dragged the snake to a village in the Padang Pariaman region after catching the snake at the Batu Cincang waterfall.

It was placed in a large cage and the top was nailed firmly shut. Locals kept the snake for several days before wild life officials could reach the area to deal with the creature.

They drive it several miles away to be released away from settlements.