Police were filmed digging out a nine-year-old who had become trapped under a metre of mud in Pauliceia, Brazil, this week.

The Sao Paulo Military Police said they were on patrol when they were approached by a woman who said a small child had become buried in the mud.

After deciding not to use heavy machinery to get to the girl, as they feared that might injure her, the police and other bystanders used their hands to dig holes through the mud, even though they did not know where exactly the child was submerged.

The police eventually located the girl about a metre deep in the mud and were able to clear her airways, though she still had trouble breathing as the clay was pushing on her chest.

The police said they were able to remove the girl, called Isabele, who was taken to the local hospital and was said to be doing well.