A family in Ahmednagar, western India, were left terrified after finding a furious cobra lurking behind their fridge.

Footage from July 11 captured by volunteers at the Animal Welfare Society shows the cobra hiding in the grill on the back of the fridge.

Jadhav said: “Initially, I thought the cobra had somehow managed to get itself trapped behind the iron grills. But it had chosen to park itself in that unusual position. As I approached, it tried to attack me and then flee. The snake had gone there to hunt rodents and decided to stay put.”

The serpent was later released back into the wild.

A family made a terrifying discovery in their home near Ahmednagar in western India on July 11.

They heard an unusual sound coming from the refrigerator in the kitchen. When they checked they heard the unmistaken ‘hiss’ of a cobra warning them to stay away.

Akash Jadhav of Animal Welfare Society went to the village to rescue the venomous snake. Even the veteran rescuer was taken aback to see the cobra awkwardly resting behind the iron grills of the refrigerator.

The cobra charged at the intruder but Akash captured it carefully.

Akash said: “Initially, I thought the cobra had somehow managed to get itself trapped behind the iron grills. But it had chosen to park itself in that unusual position. As I approached, it tried to attack me and then flee. The snake had gone there to hunt rodents and decided to stay put.”

The cobra was later released in the wild.