This is the dramatic moment a woman dodged a cobra that leapt out at her on the patio.

Hairdresser Aweeraya Sathipchan, 30, was mixing a bowl of snacks to enjoy in her home when she noticed the serpent slithering beside her before she could take the first bite in Surin province, Thailand on April 1.

CCTV footage shows the serpent leaping up at Aweeraya's legs. She ran away from the venomous reptile, which was estimated to be 6ft long, and ran to safety.

Aweeraya called the local animal rescuers, but when the team arrived, the snake had already left the home and went to the woods nearby.

She said: ‘I almost fainted from fear. The day that it happened was a Buddhist holy day. I believe the Buddha gave me luck and protection not to be hurt that day.'

Researchers found that 7,000 people are treated for snake bites each year in Thailand. Suchai Suteparuk from the Division of Toxicology at Chulalongkorn University reported that 30 of those die, with cobras being the biggest killer.