This is the dramatic moment an angler caught a massive catfish - that dragged him off his feet.

The youngster was fishing with a friend when he felt a strong tug on his rod in the River Maine next to the Chateau d'Angers in Angers, France, on September 16.

Footage shows the angler crouching down to grab the leviathan by the mouth, only for it to thrash around in the shallows and pull the man into the water.

Shocked onlookers gasped as the pair wrestled in the shallow. But following a brief struggle, the fisherman was able to drag the beast onto the boat ramp - sparking cheers from passersby watching the spectacle.

The filmer said: 'I didn't realise how big the fish was until it came out of the water. I was shocked. It was more like a monster sea creature.'

The wels catfish is the largest freshwater fish in Europe and can live up to 30 years in the wild or 60 years in captivity. A typical adult will weigh between 100 and 150kg (220 to 330 lbs).

In May 2019, three fishermen together reeled in an 8.2ft (2.5 metre) wels catfish from the same rive.