This incredible scene shows a buffalo using its horns to throw its predator into the air and save a comrade from starvation.

The incredible moment was captured on camera in Kruger National Park, South Africa, by Ian Matheson, a 52-year-old man who was visiting the park with a group of tourists. The man managed to capture a lion being thrown five metres into the air by a buffalo who was determined to save his friend.

“We had seen the two young lions on the prowl and were already pretty excited to witness nature in action, but nothing could have prepared us for what we saw next,” said Ian Matheson’s son Oliver. “It looked like it was game over, it really did look game over.”

You see, the buffalo embarked on a daring rescue mission after the lion attacked a member of its herd. The lion had already sunk its teeth into the poor buffalo after having been silently stalking it for about 45 minutes.

“We then saw two of the original pride members coming back to investigate and we didn’t really know what to expect,” the 17-year-old said. “It was crazy, it sent the lion flying about five metres into the air. I’d never seen anything like it… we’d never seen anything like what we saw that morning. We really felt privileged to have witnessed such a rare occurrence.”

Those who were part of the tour watched the horrific scene without being able to do anything to save the poor buffalo. But when it seemed that the buffalo was living its last minutes, one of its companions intervened. Because the lion was so focused on taking down its prey, it actually opened a surprise attack.

The most surprising part is that all the animals walked away from the encounter without serious injuries. Perhaps with one exception: the lion’s bruised ego.