Photos: Dramatic escape as antelope cheats five cheetahs out of death

Some would describe it as a miraculous escape after an antelope formidably shook off five cheetahs which attacked it in Kenya.

The male buck somehow stayed on its feet as the predators leapt on its back and dug their claws into it in an attempt to bring it down. But incredibly, the antelope fought itself free and fled.

The attack was captured in a remarkable series of photos by 53-year-old British photographer, Kevin Rooney, in the Naboisho Conservancy published on the dailymail.co.uk portal.

Kevin Rooney says he likes to show people what’s really happening.

“I like to show animals that are endangered at their best,” he said.

“Elephants, lions, cheetahs. They’re all at risk and if we’re not careful we’re going to lose them forever. Their numbers are dwindling. Never take them for granted, ” he added.

The incredible photos show a mother cheetah, called Selenkei, pouncing on the beast and clinging to its neck as the impala stands firm.

Her four cubs then join the hunt and leap on its back as the buck desperately kicks and struggles.

Eventually, it manages to shrug them off and bolts away from the exhausted cheetahs.

See photos below