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A hungry man had the shock of his life when he opened a cereal box - and saw a 6ft python inside.

Jarred Smith was in the kitchen preparing lunch when he saw the huge snake, coiled inside the cornflakes container.

The 22-year-old, from Sydney, Australia, ran for his life when he spied the diamond python.

“It was super weird,” he told the Daily Manly. “I peaked in the box, saw its head pop out and that’s when I dropped my food on the counter and bolted for the door."

Jarred told his dad Norris, the paper reports, and they called the New South Wales Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service.

Service member Chris McGreal helped retrieve the creature and return it to the local bush.

“The python was over 2m long and I couldn’t ­believe it was jammed into this small cereal box,” Mr McGreal said.

The snake is specifically found in southern Australia, and although it looks fearsome it is mostly harmless.

They are capable of biting but are not considered dangerous to humans.