This is the terrifying moment an overloaded lorry flips and plunges into a ravine while dumping soil in China.

Footage shows the vehicle positioned at the edge of a ravine in Pingbian County, Yunnan, on November 11.

The trailer begins to pitch upwards as it attempts to dump the loaded soil into the abyss. However, most of the dirt stays in place, causing the lorry cabin to tip upwards.

Within moments, the vehicle tilts so far back that it becomes fully upright, trapping the panicked driver inside.

It then falls off the cliff's edge and crashes into the ravine below.

Incredibly, the driver survived and was pulled out by his friends, who were reportedly filming the scene.

With the help of local police, they freed him from the smashed cabin and took him to hospital.

The driver's wife, Ms Wang, recounted the situation: 'The lorry was carrying damp yellow soil that day, and it might have been overloaded.'

She added that he sustained multiple injuries and is still receiving treatment in hospital.

Pingbian police stated that the accident was caused by improper operation.