A couple living in Mayurbhanj, eastern India, escaped from their home through the window after finding a king cobra lurking.

Okil Munda's 2-year-old son had stumbled upon the snake near the door. The family then exited the house through a window to avoid crossing paths with the venomous snake.

Snake catcher Krushnachandra Gochayat arrived at the house and managed to grab the reptile. It was later released in a nearby forest.

Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline, said: "The couple were in danger. An 8-feet long king cobra had enough neurotoxic venom to kill the entire family."

A tribal couple living at a hamlet near ​​Mayurbhanj in eastern India had a narrow escape from king cobra, the world’s deadliest snake, on June 3 night.

At around 8pm, Okil Munda’s 2-year-old son was crawling towards the door when they heard the loud hiss of a snake from behind the door. Munda pulled the baby boy to safety in the blink of an eye but had no idea how to get out of the house with the snake at the door.

While Okil’s wife stood on a cot with the son, he managed to kick open the iron railing on the window. It took an hour to break the railing and by then local forest officials and veteran snake rescuer Krushnachandra Gochayat had reached the spot.

Krushnachandra, along with his wife Sasmita Gochayat, rescued the 8-foot long King cobra from the house, which was later released at a nearby forest.

Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline, said: "The couple were in danger. A eight-feet long king cobra had enough neurotoxic venom to kill the entire family."