Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment when a man has a lucky escape as a restaurant explodes and debris rains down on him from above.

The blast took place in the Jardim Icarai area of the city of Niteroi in the Greater Rio de Janeiro area in south-eastern Brazil.

Following the explosion at the Pico snack bar, firefighters were dispatched to the scene to provide first aid.

Part of the building collapsed four metres (13 feet) to the pavement in the blast.

Debris and shards of glass hit a local man, as seen in this CCTV footage, but he was lucky to escape with just minor injuries.

He was named as 44-year-old barber Andre Luiz Freitas.

He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor abrasions and a cut to one of his hands and has since been discharged.

According to witnesses, the explosion was caused by a defective culinary torch.

An employee had run out to fetch the barber from his workplace across the road for help.

Andre is seen about to enter the building with a fire extinguisher in hand when the explosion happens.

The owner of the establishment was inside at the time and was uninjured albeit shaken.

He said that luckily the gas system was not damaged in the explosion, which could have had devastating consequences.