This is the hilarious moment a British TV reporter was fooled into thinking a koala was a lethal 'drop bear' that could kill her.

ITV News Asia correspondent Debi Edward was duped by her Australian camera crew while filming on Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, on Saturday.

They convinced her there is a subspecies of koala called a 'drop bear' that has venomous fangs and attacks humans.

In times of tragedy and incessant misery, sometimes humour is the best medicine This is the UK’s ITV News, Asia correspondent Debi Edward. I have had the pleasure of working with her now on a number of occasions and she is an exceptional journalist and a lovely lady. However, I am Australian and by proclamation a dirty rotten scoundrel. If you enjoyed this video, please don’t let Debi’s humiliation be in vain 😂 Please donate directly to help the park who are treating these koalas. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-kangaroo-islands-koalas-and-wildlife?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet Remember, nearly 40,000 have died here on Kangaroo Island. Don’t forget to share this post too 😂 Garnett Hall Sam Mitchell #KIWildlifePark #KangarooIsland #ki #SouthAustralia #SA #AusArmy #YourADF #Australianbushfires #koalas #news #fires Posted by Sean Mulcahy on Saturday, 11 January 2020

This is the hilarious moment a Scottish TV reporter was fooled into thinking a koala was a lethal 'drop bear' that could kill her

The 'drop bear' myth that fools foreigners The drop bear is a longstanding urban legend in Australia which has often been used as a prank on tourists. The legend tells of a wild animal related to the koala which pounces on its prey from above - hence the name 'drop bear'. Worried foreigners are told that the bears are known to lurk in woodland and wait as long as four hours to make a surprise kill. The story has it that the drop bear will grip on to its prey with its powerful forearms and bite its victims on the neck, the Australian Museum says. Folk remedies for fending off a drop bear attack include spreading toothpaste or Vegemite behind your ears or putting forks in your hair. Like the drop bear itself, there is no evidence to back up any of these. Advertisement

The fictional drop bear is well-established as a myth in Australia but the ITV News reporter had apparently not come across it before.

Edward was filmed putting on a protective top and goggles before the crew brought out the so-called drop bear, which was actually just a large koala.

Sean Mulcahy from Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park spoke to the camera, playing along with the prank.

He said: 'The third most common injury we see from tourists in Australia is actually from a drop bear attack.'

The koala was then handed to Edward, who looked terrified as she clutched the friendly marsupial.

'I've been told that this is quite a dangerous bear, it's been known to attack people,' she said.

She told her viewers: 'It's called a drop bear because they drop out of the trees to attack people.

'I'm trying not to be worried because I've been told that he can sense if I'm worried,' she said.

'You were kidding me! F****** Aussies,' Edward screamed as she realised the drop bear does not exist

After a few moments, Mr Mulcahy took the harmless koala back from Edward and the crew burst out laughing.

'You were kidding me! F****** Aussies,' Edward screamed as she realised the drop bear does not exist.

Although they have sharp claws, koalas are solitary animals and it is extremely rare for them to attack humans.

Real-life koalas have been badly hit by Australia's bushfire crisis and many of the creatures have been rescued from the fires.

There are concerns about how surviving koalas will cope given the loss of vegetation in the huge summer fires.

Australia's environment minister Sussan Ley has warned that in some areas, koalas may have to be reclassified as endangered.

Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk holds a koala he rescued at a burning forest near Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island, South Australia