Moment three-year-old girl dangles from 12th-storey after climbing out window - with quick-thinking neighbours jumping into action

This is the terrifying moment a three-year-old girl was left dangling from the window of a high-rise building, while her head became trapped between safety bars. 

The youngster was just inches away from tragedy after climbing out of her 12th-floor apartment in China - but quick-thinking neighbours jumped into action and saved her from slipping further.

Footage circulating on social media captured the heart-stopping ordeal at the block of flats in Fujian, on the southeastern coast of the country, on Saturday.

In one clip, two men can be seen reaching upwards from the apartment below and holding a chair under the toddler. 

A policeman can then be seen assisting the men and keeping the chair in place until the fire brigade arrived.

In later footage, a fireman can be seen cutting through the metal bars as sparks fly through the air in a bid to release the child's head.

The youngster can then be seen being carried away to safety.

It is understood the toddler's mother had left her alone in the apartment to sleep while she went out to buy groceries, the South China Morning Post reported.

The child was taken to hospital as a precaution but was unharmed. 

It comes just weeks after two Chinese men rescued a five-year-old child after he was left hanging outside a sixth-floor window in Shuozhou, China. 

Video captured the terrifying scene as the child accidentally fell from his home, with his head caught in a protective window grille outside the apartment. 

The men managed to reach the child within minutes and haul the youngster back to safety.