This is the heroic moment firefighters rescued a horse that had plunged from a five-metre ravine and become trapped between a rock face and the wall of a home.

Dramatic footage shows the mare wedged in a narrow gap, unable to move, in Sabara, Greater Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on August 8.

Authorities said the creature was struggling to breathe, as the confined space restricted the expansion of her chest.

With the homeowner's permission, the crew broke through an internal wall to improve airflow for the trapped animal.

They then continued removing part of the wall from the outside until the gap was wide enough to free the equine without causing further harm.

The rescue operation lasted around an hour. Officials confirmed that the horse did not suffer serious injuries and was left in the care of the resident.