WATCH: Dad leaps into action after his toddler catches a tarantula

By Jamie Smith via SWNS

This is the terrifying moment a father discovered the ‘bug’ his 18-month-old daughter was playing with was actually a MASSIVE TARANTULA.

Footage shows David Lehman, 36, from Tucson, Arizona, spending a summer afternoon relaxing poolside with his family.

David’s youngest daughter Blake was sitting on the patio innocently playing with an upturned coffee can.

The backyard camera catches David asking his daughter what she’s doing, to which she gleefully replies "Bug! Bug!"

Blake lifts the can to reveal a huge tarantula, causing David to leap into action and quickly hit the can out of her hands.

David, the manager for an automotive dealer, recalls his surprise: “I was expecting a beetle, as it’s that season right now, so when I saw the tarantula I just thought ‘get that gnarly thing away from my daughter!

“I tried to hit the can out of her hand but I didn’t take into consideration her toddler death grip - when I hit the can away, she went with it!

“She landed on a padded grass area, the tarantula landed on her shoulder so I just grabbed her up into my arms.

“Once we calmed down, we eventually caught the spider and checked it out then set it free in the front yard. Blake isn’t phased and still loves exploring outside!"