A desperate snake wrapped itself around the legs of a heron as it tried to avoid becoming a meal.

Michelle Siefken, 55, was watching wildlife around Lake Hollingsworth, Florida, USA, at the end of January when she came across a great blue heron on the lookout for a snack.

Gripping footage showed a courageous Florida banded water snake as it fought to remove its own head from inside the bird’s beak and throat.

Literally clinging on for life, the snake wrapped its body around both of the heron’s legs, forcing the predator to relinquish its grip around its neck.

In another brave manoeuvre, the snake tied its own body into a giant knot to avoid being swallowed, but the heron’s persistence proved the whole defence to be futile.

Michelle said: “It was fascinating to watch the snake attempt to escape the great blue heron's grip, first while its head was already in the heron's throat and later when the heron's bill was squeezing its neck and head.

“The struggle started before I arrived and probably lasted at least an hour.

“Initially, when the snake's head was in the heron's throat it managed to wrap its tail around first one and then the other leg, pulling its own head and upper body out of the bird’s throat.

“Off-balance and unable to fly or walk steadily, the heron was forced to drop its prey briefly. Unfortunately for the snake, its body was still tangled around the heron's leg making it impossible to escape.

“When the heron was finally able to loosen the hold by ‘stepping out’ of the entanglement, the snake fought yet again by knotting its body underwater, making it impossible to be swallowed.

“Unfortunately for the snake, the heron's patience, sheer determination and unyielding grip on its head appears to have suffocated this worthy adversary in the end.

“I have never seen anything like this while taking wildlife videos, before or since. It was gripping to watch.

“I was fascinated by both warriors and wanted to see what would happen next. Most of all it was incredible to watch the snake's struggle to survive and the heron's unwavering patience.”