This is the heartstopping moment a youngster ran into the road to collect a ball - but dashed back when he saw an approaching car.

Dashcam footage shows the barefooted kid emerging in the middle of the lane, trying to retrieve his small blue football on the island of Phuket, Thailand, on January 27.

He leaned over but abandoned the ball and swiftly moved to safety while the quick-thinking driver slammed his brakes.

The boy was unscathed, and the car was not damaged, but the shaken driver slowed down after the near miss.

Driver Hakeem Senla said: 'I was travelling at 50km per hour. Children were playing football on the side of the road.

'Then the boy ran to pick up the ball when it bounced away. I was able to step on the brakes in time. If not, I could have hit him.'