A Good Samaritan bravely jump started a car next to two huge lions as the trapped driver joked ‘I’m the biggest candidate if he’s looking for supper’.

Richard Staniland was on holiday in Kruger National Park, South Africa, on May 12 when a fellow visitor flagged they had a flat battery and needed help.

Richard, from Rowley Regis, West Mids, drove around and fortunately found another motorist who offered to help despite having to step out into the savannah.

Richard’s vehicle was used to block the lions from the stranded car passengers as the South African motorist bravely attached the jump leads to his own car and eventually got the engine running again.

Richard said: “It was definitely scary but the gent who helped seemed very comfortable and chilled about it.

“I guess that lion could have been on us in seconds and they are so huge close up.

“Looking back I think it was a silly thing to do, but it could easily have flipped the other way.

“But if we didn’t drive past, I’m not sure if the other car would have come the same route to pass the blue car so who knows how long they could be stuck there?

“We were driving and saw a car off the dirt road. You’re not meant to go off the roads so we were a bit surprised.

“I immediately thought it could be because of a sighting and sure enough, there were two lions not far away from the blue car, around 60ft.

“We took some photos and then saw an arm out of the car window calling us over. He then told us his battery somehow was flat and could not get it started.

“His window was barely working as the battery was flat and they were worried they might not get them up if the lions came over.

“The driver then said he had jump leads but my mom said no way was anyone getting out with the lions close.

“By this time, one of them had woken up and was definitely watching us. Fortunately five minutes down the road, we saw a larger car and flagged them down.

“He was South African and didn’t seem bothered about the lions, he said just block them away with our cars.

“Anyways, he followed us back and he did get a little less confident, but he did pull up and to be honest, it was pretty quick to jump start it.”