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

This is the moment three not-so-brave rescuers who are about to intervene when a pensioner attacks his younger ex-lover turn and run for their lives when they see the attacker put his hand in his pocket.

The shocking incident happened when a 68-year-old man started pouring petrol over his younger ex-lover, and tried to set her ablaze.

The struggles of the terrified woman as she fought to get away alerted people outside, and the first rescuer can be seen entering, and then starting to run towards the struggling pair, followed by another man and a woman.

But as the elderly attacker put his hand in the pocket, the wide-eyed trio turn tail and flee and disappear off down the street.

Their intervention, however, allowed the woman to break free and run for the entrance, but he catches her again before she can escape. But after failing to get a lighter to work – he then flees as well.

The incident was filmed in the municipality of Petropolis in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 16th May.

According to local media, the elderly man went to the workplace of his ex-girlfriend, aged 41, armed with petrol and a lighter because he refused to accept that the relationship was over.

In the apparent femicide attempt, the suspect, 27 years older than his former lover, doused the victim in fuel and tried to set her alight.

According to reports, the suspect did manage to flee the scene before police survived but the victim was otherwise unharmed.

After the incident, the victim went to the police station to file a complaint, however, the suspect was not at home when officers turned up to arrest him and he remains on the run.

The manhunt continues.