HEART-STOPPING footage captures a terrified wildebeest cheating death by escaping the snapping jaws of a man-eating crocodile by just a matter of INCHES.

The breath-taking clip was filmed during the great migration across east Africa when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest cross rivers teeming with crocodiles and other apex predators in search of food and shelter. Whilst crossing the notorious Mara River, a frantic wildebeest is lucky to get away with its life after a surprise attack from a vicious nile crocodile. The mighty croc’s lunge doesn’t quite manage to grip the bewildered animal’s neck but instead rakes its razor-sharp teeth down the wildebeest’s flank as the herd animal breaks for the relative safety of the riverbank.

The fortuitous beast may only have been spared as the immense reptile had already enjoyed its fill of wildebeest, having snacked on several of the migrating creatures already.

The striking footage was captured by award-winning photographer Chris Bray (36) during one of his numerous trips to Kenya. A seasoned explorer who has travelled across the world searching for wildlife, Bray admits his ‘heart was in his mouth’ as he watched the crocodile approach the frenzied wildebeest.