A Good Samaritan helped a baby snapping turtle cross a road to stop it from being killed.

Stephanie Macchia was driving near Lake George, New York, USA, with her kids and sister Nikki on July 22 when they came across a tiny animal on the tarmac in front of them.

Heartwarming footage shows Nikki carefully shepherding the newborn turtle across one lane toward a grass verge on the other side.

Checking for oncoming traffic, Nikki eventually helped the reptile off the road and lifted it further into the vegetation to make sure it was safe from harm.

Stephanie said: “I thought it was great. We are a big animal helping family. I would have done it if she wasn’t there with us. The kids and I were laughing as she slowly helped it along.

“We all saw him trying to cross. I had to make a U-turn in someone’s driveway to turn around and get back to him.

“It only took her a minute to get him across the road. She didn’t get snapped or anything like that, she was very careful to avoid his mouth.”