This is the incredible moment a young woman saves the life of a burly weightlifter after a massive set of barbells crushed him almost to death.

CCTV footage of the incident shows a gym in Shangqiu, in the eastern Henan province in China, on August 27.

The woman, who appears to work at the gym, was seated at an office table in the fitness studio when she heard faint sounds of distress from the weightlifter, which everyone else seemed to ignore.

As she stands up and rushes over, she discovers the man trapped by the barbells. Another man notices her hurrying across the gym, realizes the situation, and joins her in the rescue.

The woman leaned over the man, helping to lift the barbells, while the second man grabbed one end of the weights to help.

They managed to free the weightlifter, who was reportedly unharmed after the incident.

The young woman's name or confirmation that she worked at the gym was not revealed.