Holey cow! Greedy beast sends man flying down a hole in the ground before gobbling up his vegetables in southern India

A man in India got a nasty shock when a cow sent him flying into the air and down a hole in the ground. 

Just seconds before, the man was calmly strolling down a street in southern India when the errant beast appeared to take an interest in the vegetables he was carrying. 

The cow nudged the man, who moved out of its way before turning to speak to a street vendor. 

In that instant, the hangry herbivore approached the man from behind, using its horns to tip him into a hole in the street and sending his vegetables flying into the air.

The unbelievable moment was caught on camera in footage apparently taken by a nearby security camera in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh state.

As others rush to help the stunned man who appears to be stuck in the hole, the cow turns its attention to the unattended vegetables and begins feasting on the scattered goods.

Men come running from a nearby shop and from further up the street and help to pull the man out of the hole.

Now sitting in the street, surrounded by concerned onlookers, the man does not attempt to move. It is unclear whether he has been injured in the fall.

Apparently oblivious to the tumult it has caused, the cow continues chowing down on its loot as the video ends. 

The men make no attempt to reprimand the beast, which is considered a sacred creature by India's Hindu population.  

A man is seen calmly strolling down a street in southern India before being attacked by a cow that has been walking behind him

Using its horns, the animal flips the man off his feet, into the air then slams him down into a hole in the ground

Oblivious to the distress it's caused, the cow happily munches away on the stolen vegetables as onlookers check the man is okay