In a stunning example of being in the right place at the right time, an impala avoided capture by two cheetahs giving chase after it jumped into a parked car. The move saved the creature’s life and provided an opportunity for bystanders to take some incredible video footage.
The impala appeared to be seconds away from death when it made a quick turn and jumped into a Toyota Prado that happened to be parked on a road with its windows down.
Samantha Pittendrigh, a regular visitor to Kruger National Park in South Africa, filmed the event.
“We started freaking out going crazy. We couldn't believe it - we were absolutely dumbstruck,” she said, according to the Daily Mail. “We had absolutely no idea what was going on.”
Pittendrigh, 20, said her group was watching as the cheetahs were giving chase.
“We saw a few of them turn around in the bushes towards the road they were running from.
“All of a sudden we saw the impala jump out of the bushes and then someone started screaming 'it is in the car, it is in the car'. People in other cars screamed 'open the door, open the door.'"
The impala managed to avoid becoming a meal and was able to get out of the Toyota as well.
The event is not the first epic animal encounter to be caught on video at Kruger National Park. The famous "Battle at Kruger" YouTube video from 2007 has received more than 72 million views to date.