A crayfish has gone to extraordinary lengths in a desperate bid to avoid being served to a group of diners, severing its own claw to escape.

The crustacean was seen clinging for its life on the edge of a hotpot at a restaurant in China, before trying to make a break for it.

In footage viewed more than a million times, the crayfish climbs out of the pot while one of its claws remains caught.

Then in a final bid for freedom, the crustacean tears itself free with the aid of its right claw.

The 11-second video surfaced on Chinese platform Weibo, where users left comments in support of the crayfish.

Juike, who originally posted the video, later revealed to Taiwan News that he adopted the crayfish as a pet.

“I let him live,” he said.

“I already took him home and am raising him in an aquarium.”

While some users were concerned the crayfish would have to live without one claw, marine experts say they are able to grow limbs back.

Watch the sensational escape:

China is in the midst of a crayfish craze in which prices and production of the delicacy have boomed in recent years.

The country is now the world’s largest source of crayfish, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, which cited a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Output in China rose to 852,300 tonnes in 2016 from 265,500 tonnes in 2007, Xinhua said.