Coach saves falling gymnast with a brilliant catch

An Italian gymnastics coach has saved one of his athletes from a nasty fall off the uneven parallel bars not once, but twice, with a pair of brilliant catches.

Footage from the L’International Gymnix competition in Canada shows junior gymnast Sara Berardinelli going through her routine on the high bar while her coach walks onto the mat to spot her.

As she attempts to flip over the bar and grab it between her legs, she hits the bar with her lower back and is sent sprawling to the mat.

It’s then that her coach shows great reflexes to catch her just centimetres before she hits the ground head first.

After regaining her composure and re-chalking her hands, Berardinelli attempts to restart her routine.

She is unable to complete the move a second time with her coach once again coming to the rescue by catching her before she hits the mat.

We’re not sure what score Berardinelli was awarded but we assume the coach was given tens across the board.