A baby kangaroo had a narrow escape when a large eagle swooped down and grabbed him in his talons, carrying him away.

He only escaped being eaten when his adopted owner - a police officer in Cue, Western Australia - managed to run after the bird and scare it away.

Little joey Cuejo was adopted by S/C Scott Mason earlier this year after being handed in to officers when his mother was killed by a truck.

He has since become somewhat of a mascot for the local policing team, and was visiting the nearby town of Burringurrah with S/C Mason as part of relief duties.

The small roo had been there for around three weeks when, last week, he was spotted by a passing eagle as he snoozed in the station yard.

According to the Western Australia Police, the wedge-tailed eagle carried him over the yard's fence and landed a short distance away, where another eagle had also landed, apparently ready to join in the meal.

But S/C Mason managed to catch up and scare off the birds - which can have a wingspan of more than 9ft - and take Cuejo to safety.

He had suffered talon wounds to his chest and face, but after receiving treatment was said to be on the road to recovery and back at home in Cue.

The name Cuejo was chosen through a social media vote after the joey was handed in.