This is terrifying moment a man was repeatedly attacked by a bird of prey - forcing him to duck and run for nearly a kilometre to escape.

Alexis Touchard, 30, was out running near his home when a buzzard struck him with such force it knocked one of his headphones out.

Alexis initially thought a tree branch had hit him but quickly realized he was being targeted by a large bird of prey.

A dramatic video shows the buzzard repeatedly swooping down at him as Alexis runs, shields his head and tries to flee the attacks.

Alexis, an osteopath from Cuges-les-Pins, France said: "At first I thought a big branch had fallen on me. "

"But when I turned around, there was nothing — then I heard the bird's loud cries. "

"I was in shock and then I saw it coming straight for my head."

"It just kept coming after me over and over again."

"It wasn't just a warning — it was aiming for my head, full speed."

The buzzard struck Alexis once at the start of the ordeal, knocking out one of his headphones and ripping part of his backpack.

Despite repeated attacks, Alexis managed to dodge further blows and only suffered a small scratch and some neck pain.

He said: "I've run into wild boars, rabbits, snakes, goats, and deer before but never anything like this. "

"The speed and persistence of the bird were unbelievable."

The terrifying encounter lasted nearly for ten minutes with the buzzard charging at Alexis dozens of times.

Alexis said: "Each time it dove at me, I had to duck just in time. "

"It was an incredible feeling of helplessness. "

It kept getting as close as 20 centimetres from my head."

Alexis still runs regularly but is avoiding that particular trail for the time being and is advising fellow runners to ditch the headphones to stay more aware of wildlife.

Alexis said: "If I had heard it call out, maybe I could've avoided it. "

"My advice is to stay alert, don't fight back — just leave the area as quickly as you can."