This is the horrific moment a terrified schoolgirl is tossed into the air as she is attacked by a huge cow.

The shocking attack took place on Elango Street in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, in the state of Tamil Nadu, on southern India’s Coromandel Coast, on Wednesday, 9th August.

The footage appears to show a mum walking along a street with her daughter and her son behind two cows.

The boy appears to tease the cows, with the larger of the two bovines then spinning around.

The boy quickly retreats along with his mother but the girl, who has been named as Ayesha, is not fast enough.

In one simple and terrifying motion, the cow jabs one of its horns under the girl’s headscarf, only narrowly avoiding killing her on the spot, before lifting her up into the air and sending her flying across the street as screams are heard.

The young girl hits the ground hard but the cow does not stop there, shunting her with its horns and forehead as she lies on the ground trying to shield herself from the blows.

The large animal can be seen stepping on her as the smaller cow appears to join in on the attack.

The boy and his mother can be heard screaming and gesturing, with locals quickly drawn to the ruckus.

One man can be seen beginning to throw rocks at the cows before another joins him.

The large bovine momentarily retreats before charging at him as he tries to pull Ayesha to safety.

In the CCTV footage, he then jumps out of the way, with the large bovine then attacking the young girl again.

She can be seen trying to stand up and collapsing again after the cows are finally chased down the street.

Locals can be seen quickly gathering around the trio to check on them as the footage ends.

Ayesha was reportedly rushed to hospital with serious injuries and is said to be stable.

The authorities are investigating the incident and have opened a case against the owner of the cows, named only as Vivek.