Adelaide student threatened with gun over a pack of cigarettes at service station hold-up

A mining student has vowed to return to work immediately after surviving a terrifying hold-up in Adelaide's western suburbs.

Midhilesh Gaddigopula was manning a service station on Henley Beach Road in Torrensville when he was threatened with a hand gun.

"I was just frozen up. I had goosebumps. I had no words to say," he said.

The culprit approached Mr Gaddigopula just after 7pm on Sunday.

He demanded cash before drawing the pistol.

"I tried to make him calm," he said.

"I said to him, like, cigarettes are no big deal. You can take the cigarettes, there is no situation like a gun for a cigarette."

The robber took off with a single packet of cigarettes, but pledged to return to the store to pay before he fled.

Despite the ordeal, Mr Gaddigopula says he won't miss his shift tonight.

"It was a long night, before, but I'm okay," he said.

"I'll go to work, it's no problem."

Police arrested a man this evening, but no charges have been laid.