Croc trainer snapped scared while sticking his arm down reptile's throat

A man working in a reptile enclosure in Thailand has slipped over at the worst possible time — as his co-worker began sticking his arm down a crocodile's throat.

In a video believed to have been shot at the Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo in the city of Sam Phran, a man suspected of being reptile trainer Samrit Maiboran is entertaining a packed house with his most dangerous trick when a clumsy workmate ambles by.

With the crocodile sitting still with its jaws opened wide, the trainer begins sliding his hand deep inside the animal's mouth as the other worker slams onto the ground in a pool of water.

The unexpected crash sends Samrit into a tailspin, anxiously ripping away his arm to save from having it bitten off by the crocodile that he expected would be startled.

Samrit, who has trained crocodiles since he was 15, has previously told the Bangkok Post: "It is a job only daring people can do.

Wearing the same electric blue satin uniform as the man in the video, Samrit described to the newspaper the dangers he faces every day and he handles them and the animals.

''And you really have no idea when you will be attacked by the crocodiles. The important thing is you need to make the animals feel familiar with you and with the acts before you put them out for shows.

"Otherwise, you will only get hurt.''