The animal slipped in trying to reach food thrown by a visitor (Picture: Central European News)

A quick-thinking zookeeper dramatically pulled an orangutan from a moat after it slipped in trying to reach food thrown by a visitor.

Incredible footage shows the moment the hero leaped into the water at Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc on Phu Quoc, the largest island in Vietnam, last Friday.

The video shows the ape trying to scramble down a concrete ramp leading into the moat – but accidentally fell in.

The orangutan is seen struggling in the water before disappearing beneath the surface.

The zookeeper takes action immediately and throws in a lifebuoy before jumping straight in after the animal, and dives under the water to pull the orangutan back up to the surface.

He pulls the ape over to the ramp and drags it out of the water.

More footage shows the zookeeper performing CPR on the orangutan to revive it.

The zoo, which is home to around 3,000 animals, confirmed the orangutan survived and is now in a stable condition.

The ape tried to scramble down a ramp but accidentally fell in (Picture: Central European News)

The hero zookeeper leaps straight in after the animal (Picture: Central European News)