This footage shows a mum’s lightning-quick reaction when her tot tumbled head-first into a tub of water.

A CCTV camera caught the incident as it unfolded in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, South China, on the night of 7th August.

The footage shows how a girl throws a toy ball into a tub of water, with two boys instantly walking over to retrieve it.

But as they fish the ball out of the container, the younger of the two boys topples head-first into the water.

But, within seconds, his mother – named in reports as Ms Huang – can be seen sprinting over and pulling the two-year-old out of the tub by his arms.

She then wipes his face dry as the tot bursts into tears.

Meanwhile, the other boy can be seen darting away and the girl can be heard laughing.

Social media user ‘rainy and sunny’ commented: “It’s dangerous, but my mother is by my side.”

While ‘shy’ wrote: “Under normal circumstances, the bigger one will definitely get two slaps.”