This is the heart-stopping moment a dog was left hanging from a lift by its lead, choking almost to death, before a quick-thinking neighbour rushed to its rescue.

Security footage shows the schnauzer's owner entering the elevator while the canine remains outside, its lead caught in the doors as they close and the lift begins to rise.

The small pooch is seen suspended in midair, struggling and kicking as it starts to choke in Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Thursday, October 16.

Music producer and composer Leo Blumberg, who works in a studio on the first floor, heard the lift alarm and rushed out to investigate.

He found the helpless schnauzer hanging from the lift door, already losing consciousness.

Leo quickly unhooked the dog's harness and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the animal gradually regained movement and finally recovered.

The pet's owner was trapped inside the lift, shouting for help. Building staff arrived moments later to free her.

Leo told local media that he had learned CPR for people during a previous job and adapted the technique as best he could for the dog.

The incident occurred on World CPR Day, a day dedicated to promoting the learning of resuscitation techniques to save lives.

Leo said he now plans to write and record a short song with his production company explaining how to perform CPR on animals, aiming to raise awareness of pet safety.

He told reporters: 'It's a useful and necessary piece of information.'