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This picture shows a Sikh man selflessly abandoning the strict rules of his faith to remove his turban and place it under the head of an injured five-year-old boy.

Harman Singh has been hailed as a hero after he removed his headware to cradle the bleeding head of the young lad who had just been hit by a vehicle on his way to school.

The 22-year-old was at home when he heard the wheels of a car screeching and rushed outside to investigate the commotion in Takanini, South Auckland, according to The New Zealand Herald.

"I saw a child down on the ground and a lady was holding him," he said. "His head was bleeding, so I unveiled my turban and put it under his head."

Members of the Indian community last night praised Mr Singh for his action, considered a hugely significant act of humanity by breaking strict religious protocol to help a stranger.

Mr Singh acknowledged the rare step he took to help, but said that protocols of his faith did not restrict certain actions in an emergency.

"I wasn't thinking about the turban," he said. "I was thinking about the accident and I just thought, 'He needs something on his head because he's bleeding.' That's my job - to help. And I think anyone else would have done the same as me."

(Image: Facebook)

Mr Singh and other members of the public stayed with the boy until emergency services arrived.

The boy's mother reached the scene not long after the collision.

Another bystander Gagan Dhillon said he was on his way to work when he saw the accident and stopped to help.

"There was enough help as there was, but being a Sikh myself, I know what type of respect the turban has," he said. "People just don't take it off - people die over it."

He added: "He didn't care that his head was uncovered in public. He just wanted to help this little boy."

The five-year-old was walking to school with his older sister when he was hit. He is understood to have suffered life-threatening head injuries, but was last night recovering in Starship Hospital after surgery.

Thousands of people have also been commenting on Mr Singh's Facebook page and his story has been shared tens of thousands of times on social media.

One post on Facebook said: "Great symbol of - we are all human beings. We have our individual beliefs, but at the end of the day to care for one another is key."

Another said: "This is why I have high respect for the Sikhism faith. Awesome job mate!"

The 22-year-old, from India, who is in Auckland studying a business course, said he was overwhelmed by the messages of support from around the globe, and was only trying to be a "decent member of the community".