Mr McKenzie said every time he had tried to catch the serpent it had darted under a concrete slab in the garden.

The snake had then resisted any attempt to dislodge it from underneath the slab, including when Mr McKenzie used a water hose and leaf blower.

Bereft of other options, Mr McKenzie opted for a more unorthodox approach.

Writing on his Facebook page, he said: “The final thing left to do was to jump off the edge of the pool and land next to him and grab him when he was out from underneath the slab. And let’s just say it worked a treat.”

In the footage Mr McKenzie can be seen waiting for the snake to emerge before hopping down and quickly scooping up the reptile.