This is the heart-stopping moment a quick-thinking pedestrian saved the life of a schoolgirl who was running into the path of an oncoming car.

The youngster in a pink coat recklessly dashed across the road while the red Volkswagen was approaching.

Miraculously, the passerby who had already walked in front of the youngster spotted the danger in his peripheral vision.

With life-saving reactions, he reached behind and stretched out his arm to hold the girl back. He then deftly spun around and secured the child while pulling her away from any danger - putting his own body in the path of the car while shielding her.

The stunning act of heroism prevented the girl from suffering almost certain serious injuries or possible death.

CCTV cameras captured the incident in Hubei, China, on January 7, and the man was praised for his actions.