Pictured: The moment British photographer cheated death under wheels of 200mph runaway dragster

By DAVID GARDNER FOR MAILONLINE
Updated: 20:16 EDT, 13 December 2009

This is the terrifying moment a British photographer cheated death as an out-of-control drag racing car careered towards him out of control.

Andy Willsheer kept snapping even as the 250mph car spun towards the crash barrier at Pomona Raceway in California.

Andy Willsheer barely takes a step backwards as the 250mph dragster bares down on him

How it happened: As Drag racer Steve Gassparelli accelerated away from the line his 'funny car' suddenly veered to the right

There was nothing more Gassparelli could do but sit tight and hope the fuel-laden dragster did not explode

With the 250mph funny car heading straight for him, Willsheer calmly snapped away - even though other photographers were running in the opposite direction

And yet closer: In the blink of an eye the dragster was almost on the Briton... but he kept the viewfinder of his camera clamped closely to his eye

Miraculously, the wrecked vehicle landed just feet away from the photographer, who escaped unharmed.

The high-powered machine, capable of going from 0-60 mph in under a second, skidded off the track after its right side wheels hit an oil slick.

Only the concrete barrier prevented Willsheer from being killed by stopping the car dead just three feet away from where he was standing.

‘The crowd were yelling out for him to get out of the way and he kept on taking pictures,’ said one eyewitness.

‘He really is lucky to be alive, but he must have taken some great photos.’

Safety teams shut down the engine as soon as it stopped and driver Steve Gasparrelli also walked away unhurt.

The giant back wheels loom large as Gassparelli's car strikes the concrete barrier

Inches from death: The wheels were still spinning as the car mounted the barrier...

Up close: Andy Wilsheer's photo as the drag race car bounces off the barrier in front of him

Photographer Andy Willsheer calmly snapped away as car careered towards him