This is the terrifying moment a Thai shop owner accidentally stepped on a snake lurking in his store room — before bolting in fear.

The local was entering the cluttered storage area in Rayong, eastern Thailand, when his foot came down on the serpent that had slithered out from under a drum set.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows the man jumping in horror as his foot snagged on the reptile's body on September 9.

He bolted the scene and called snake catchers, who later found the creature hiding under a cabinet.

It was later confirmed to be a non-venomous rat snake and was safely released into the wild.

Rat snakes are non-venomous snakes commonly found across Asia and North America. They are known for preying on rodents and help control pest populations.