An angler rescued a scared calf trying to swim through a lake to escape a rabid stray dog.

Chen Passakon was fishing from a boat when he spotted the baby cow floating in the water while being chased by the angry mutt in Sukhothai, Thailand on January 7.

Footage shows Chen using the paddle of his boat to make the canine return to the shore and leave the calf alone.

He then rowed towards the baby cow and tried to calm it as he guided it back to land. He had to hold the rope around the calf's neck to keep it from drowning.

Chen said: ‘The calf escaped into the water when the dogs tried attacking it, but one of the pooches followed it. We helped to return to the farmer.

'Cows are better swimmers than dogs. That's what saved the calf from being bitten.'