Kentucky pet store worker nearly crushed to death by python

A man working at a Kentucky pet store has been seriously hurt after a massive python he was feeding nearly crushed him to death.

Police said they were called to Captive Born Reptiles and found the snake wrapped around the man.

Terry Wilkens was not breathing when the officers pried the snake off him but he resumed breathing shortly afterwards, officers said.

The python weighed about 125lb (56kg) and measured 20ft (6m) long.

"It was only by the grace of God that one of the officers knew how to deal with snakes," Newport Kentucky Police Chief Tom Collins told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Officer Gregory Ripberger grabbed the snake by its head and uncurled the python from Mr Wilkens.

Mr Collins said Mr Wilkens was recovering at a hospital in nearby Cincinnati, Ohio, and he was alert and talking. The type of python that attacked Mr Wilkens was not disclosed.

The man's daughter Keiko Wilkens said in a statement the incident was overblown and her father had recovered. She said her father's life was never in danger.

According to its website, the shop - which has two locations - specialises in breeding reptiles rather than selling wild animals.

"Captive bred animals are more tame, healthier, and much better pets," the site reads.