A distressing footage shows an elderly man being attacked by a huge male lion at a wildlife park.

The clip, which is believed to be filmed on Monday at the Makarele Predator Centre in South Africa, shows the victim entering the big cat's enclosure while witnesses look on.

But the lion spots the man, who is reportedly the owner of the park, and chases him towards the metal door of the facility.

In astonishing scenes, the elderly man is dragged like a rag doll towards some bushes.

Onlookers scream for help while the animal paws the pensioner, who does not appear to be moving, reports The Sun.

The lion then drags the man further into the bushes but then gunshots ring out and the lion is scared away.

But the predator remains near the victim while more shots are fired into the air.

One girl who is watching the attack is heard crying in horror as another man shouts for someone to ‘get a rifle.’

The clip, which has emerged online, ends after 90 seconds.

It is unclear why the man, who is reportedly in a critical condition, had gone into the lion’s enclosure.