Many individuals would likely flee upon spotting a snake in their yard, but one 12-year-old girl took action when she saw a snake targeting a beloved family pet.

Snakes are creatures that should be approached with caution if one is unfamiliar with them. Certain species of snakes swallow their prey whole during hunts, including fully grown humans if the reptile is particularly hungry.

While snakes can be common pets, it wasn’t a resident pet that appeared in the garden of 12-year-old Rosie Wightman during her recent outdoor playtime.

In footage shared by Rosie’s uncle, Brisbane radio personality Kip Wightman, Rosie is seen approaching a corner of the yard in Australia and crouching over a shrub where her guinea pig, MaxiBon, had ventured.

The 12-year-old seemed to follow the guinea pig as it scurried from behind the bush, but suddenly Rosie knelt down and grabbed something from the ground.

The footage captured the moment she stood up with a snake grasped in her palm and MaxiBon the guinea pig dangling from the snake’s fangs.

Realizing she needed to free MaxiBon, Rosie swung the snake dramatically around the garden to encourage it to release its grip.

The poor guinea pig likely had no idea what was happening as it crashed into objects in the garden, but Rosie’s technique worked as she hurled the snake to the ground and MaxiBon fled back into the bushes.

Speaking to 7News after the dramatic rescue, Rosie admitted she didn’t think twice about helping the guinea pig.

“Didn’t even think it through,” she said. “I was just like, ‘grab the snake, grab the snake’.”

It’s not a method I’d necessarily recommend, but Rosie’s dad, Luke Wightman, expressed pride in his daughter’s bravery after rushing into the garden to investigate.

“I’m proud that my Rosie, at 12 years old, had the guts to pick up a snake and save her pet’s life,” he said.

The exact species of snake involved remains unclear from the footage, but the good news is that it didn’t manage to escape with MaxiBon, and the guinea pig appears to be doing fine after the frightening encounter.