A huge salamander tried to wriggle out of a heron’s mouth after being swallowed whole.

Michelle Siefken was at Lake Hollingsworth, Florida, USA, in July when she spotted a black-crowned night heron on the hunt.

Incredible footage captured the bird’s epic struggle as it pulled an eel-like salamander called an amphiuma from underwater which was desperately wrapped around a stick.

Even after being swallowed by the heron, the lizard desperately tried to wriggle back out of the bird’s mouth before eventually being eaten.

Michelle said: “I was as much amazed by the appearance of the night heron as I was by its prized catch throughout this experience.

“I never saw a black-crowned night heron look so aggressive and wild, with eyes more red than I’d ever seen them.

“It’s wings were flapping wildly and its head and body was jerking around above and below the water’s surface, never loosening its grip on the amphiuma until the time was right to uncoil its weakened body from the stick.

“I’ve never seen a black-crowned night heron hunt for something so large before, only small fish in the past.

“I thought it was after a fish, but was shocked to see the night heron pull up a large stick covered with leaves and debris to the water’s surface.

“At first I didn’t even see the amphiuma as it was wrapped tightly around the stick and debris.

“It took at least 45 minutes for the night heron to finally pull the resistant salamander from the stick and muck, then prepare it for swallowing.

“I wasn’t sure the night heron would be able to keep it down. Several times I would see the amphiuma’s wriggling tail stick out of the night heron’s beak.

“Patiently, the night heron would take in water to assist with making the final successful swallow.”