This is the shocking moment a skier was helped to his feet after being attacked by a snow leopard at a resort in China.

The holidaymaker was reportedly injured following the wildcat's attack as he skied across the piste in Fuyun County, Xinjiang.

Local media reported that the winter sports enthusiast was about to return to his hotel when the creature lunged from a roadside forest belt in the Talat village area on January 23.

Witnesses passing nearby rushed to pull the man out of the deep snow.

An onlooker said: 'We saw him lying on his side with blood on his face, so we approached him immediately.'

Footage shows a group of men lifting the victim, who was clad in a purple ski suit and struggling to stand on his own at around 7 pm local time.

The beast can be seen waddling through the knee-deep snow just metres away from the group. Moments later, it briefly sat down to watch from afar before sprinting back into the forest.

Locals reported the incident to the police, and the group transported the skier to a nearby hospital, where he is currently recovering from his injuries.

Following the encounter, the local forestry and grassland bureau, along with the public security bureau, conducted patrols and implemented protective measures to prevent further incidents.

Snow leopards rarely attack humans. They are known for their elusive nature and generally avoid people.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said that these animals are solitary creatures, typically seen with others only during mating season or while raising their young.

They hunt herbivores, notably Himalayan blue sheep, and a single kill can sustain them for up to two weeks.

The Snow Leopard Trust reports that China is home to the world's largest population of wild snow leopards, which occupies more than half of the species' global potential habitat.