This is the heartwarming moment a heroic animal lover was reunited with the tiny bunny he pulled from a raging California wildfire.

Moving footage shows selfless Caleb Wadman stroking the singed rabbit as it recovers in a local vet, after they were reunited on TV just five days after he rescued it from the blaze.

6

The 21-year-old told how he braved "immense" heat as he tried valiantly to rescue the animal, which he said was "screaming" in pain

Local news cameras spotted brave Caleb dashing to within feet of the inferno to save the stricken animal.

He then hunkered down as he tried to lure the rabbit to the side of the road — before bending over and scooping it out.

A man can be heard saying: "It's an animal" as the hero clasped the injured creature and walked from the fire.

6 Terrifying footage shows heroic Caleb desperately trying to lure the rabbit away from the inferno Credit: RMG News

6 He coaxes the wild rabbit out of the flames at the side of a California highway Credit: RMG News

6 He cradling the singed bunny after he pulled it from the raging fires Credit: RMG News

6 The fire incinerated more than 50,000 acres around the city of Ventura, California Credit: Rex Features

6 Brave Caleb told how he "was going crazy because she was screaming"

Caleb was the second man to come forward after 19-year-old Oscar Gonzales claimed to be the hero the night before.

Tens of thousands have been moved from the path of the wildfire which has burned through more than 50,000 acres since Monday.

More than 200 homes and buildings have so far been destroyed — but that figure is likely to rise much higher.

Caleb said: "In the video that everybody sees, I was going crazy because she was screaming.

MOST READ IN NEWS EAT IN OR TAKE OUT? Chaos & confusion over whether cafes will HAVE to offer table service CLUB FURY Footballer who beat girlfriend & forced her to eat paint signs to new club COP ATTACK Eleven firearm cops injured in horrific ‘acid attack’ during armed drugs raid BE A POPPY STAR Capt Tom & Becks launch Sun campaign to save Poppy Appeal from Covid threat WINTER COMING England may have to ban home visits too as SAGE adviser warns lockdown coming Exclusive RISHI BLOWS THE BUDGET Chancellor to extend furlough for staff worst hit by new covid rules

Proud Mum Shari added: "I started to cry actually - that was very kind of him, but then I saw how close he was to the fire."

The wild female cottontail rabbit suffered burns and heat damage, and was transferred to a specialist vet after Caleb brought her to Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital.

“This rabbit needed to get medical attention,” Dr. Duane Tom, director of animal care at the California Wildlife Center, told Inside Edition.