This is the jaw-dropping moment a sheep wearing a lucky red ribbon flies into the sky after being hit by a car and then limps off after surviving the collision.

Shocking footage shows the sheep, seemingly dressed for the festive season, running along a busy road at night in Zhengzhou, Henan, China, on December 23. The sheep suddenly darts away from a man nearby and runs directly into the path of an oncoming car.

The force of the collision causes the sheep to roll over the bonnet before being catapulted into the air. It then flips and lands on the road, injuring one of its legs.

Amazingly, the resilient sheep, dubbed the 'King of Sheep,' climbs back onto its remaining three legs, holding the injured leg in the air and limping away as the footage ends.

Witnesses reported that the sheep's owner compensated the driver for the damages caused by the incident.

A second clip shows the sheep appearing unharmed apart from the leg injury.

The red ribbon on the sheep is believed to be linked to Chinese cultural beliefs, where red is considered a lucky colour.

Festive decorations, including those on animals, have become increasingly common in rural China as part of the year-end celebrations.