Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN

Video Credit: CEN/@crimeairnetwork

This is the moment a heroic cash-in-transit guard manages to fight off two armed robbers who shoot at him by firing back at them causing the thugs to scarper.

The startling incident occurred at a Checkers shop in the town of Virginia in Central South Africa’s Free State Province and was recorded by a CCTV camera.

In the video, the cash-in-transit (CIT) guard can be seen leaving the shop carrying a box of money when the two armed thugs open fire on him.

Pictures Credit: CEN

The guard reacts quickly, pulling out his own weapon and firing at one of the thugs before falling to the floor.

The CIT guard then turns as he falls and fires at the other criminal who drops his gun and falls over as the other thug runs away with a severe limp.

The guard, who has not been named in reports, then flees the scene and local media report the criminals left empty-handed.

Reports state the two thugs were later arrested after checking themselves into a local hospital with bullet wounds.

The pair reportedly remain under police guard at the hospital.

Reports state a third thug, who cannot be seen in the video, was also involved in the incident but has not been caught.

Provincial police officer Lynda Steyn said that a female member of staff at the shop was injured in the incident but there is no update on her condition.

It is currently unclear if the security guard was injured at all in the shootout.