This is the dramatic moment a hero security guard caught an elderly shopper who tripped down the escalator while carrying heavy shopping bags in both hands and nearly fell all the way to the bottom.

CCTV cameras captured the close call inside a supermarket in Shaoyang, southern Hunan Province, China, on October 20. In the video, an elderly woman in a red jacket is seen standing on the moving stairway leading up after apparently having finished their shopping.

Suddenly, she lost her balance and began teetering backwards on the escalator, desperately trying not to lose her foot as the heavy bags seemingly weighed her down.

At that moment, a security guard, named Deng Xihua, spotted the danger and ran over to help her. He caught her just before she fell over and held onto her until she safely reached the top of the stairway.

Deng's quick response was later praised by locals.

Speaking later to local media, Deng humbly said: 'I am a proud member of the Communist Party and also a veteran. When I saw the person in danger, I naturally rushed up to help at the first moment.'