This is the dramatic moment a bird escaped with its life and being dragged underwater by a hungry fish.

The thirsty pigeon stopped with its friend for a drink while cooling off in the cloudy river in Patos de Minas, Brazil, on June 1.

However, a predatory freshwater fish caught sight of the duo and was seen patiently waiting beneath the surface while pretending to be a rock as it eyed up its lunch.

The grey bird sipped the refreshing water before the killer carnivorous fish lunged at the feathered creature and dragged it into the depths.

Despite successfully holding the pigeon underwater, the agile bird was able to escape from the fish’s mouth and frantically fly away.

Onlooker Vitor Coutinho who lived nearby said: ‘I wondered why the huge fish was not moving in front of the birds like it was pretending to be a rock.

‘I had a suspicion that the fish would eat the bird so I started filming. I thought the fish had won but the bird was still smart and lucky. What an amazing thing to witness firsthand.’