A golden koi carp found on the path at a university garden was helped back to a pond in China.

Footage shows the fish flopped on its side on the concrete beside a row of bush plants before it was picked up by a passing student in Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University on September 6 morning.

The kind student Shi Zixuan took the animal back to the water and said ‘go, go, go' as he rushed to return it. He waved to the fish as it swam away.

Carp fish can jump out of the water if they feel threatened, to escape predators, find food, reach their spawning ground, or avoid obstacles. Some species have been known to jump as high as 10ft into the air which can be dangerous for boaters and swimmers.