TWO men who rescued a kangaroo from a freezing river were offered a handshake by the Australian animal as it seemingly offered its thanks Tuesday.

The rescuers were filmed lifting the kangaroo from the chilly waters of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, in a video that’s been widely circulated on social media.

The kangaroo initially seemed nervous when the two men closed in, crouching low and then startling when the first man reached out to touch him.

However, it eventually allows them to lift it up and is carried out of the water.

Holding the animal between them, the two men walk to the edge of the lake, where they then pass the kangaroo up to a third man waiting on the pavement surrounding the water.

Again, the kangaroo seems startled as it’s pulled up onto solid ground, turning around again to face the water before one of the men stands in front of it and holds its paws, seemingly to ensure it doesn’t jump straight back in.

He briefly lets go of the creature’s paws, but the roo offers a paw back to him, in what appears to be a gesture of thanks.

In the background of the clip he can be heard saying: “Aw, he’s thanking.”

The video has been viewed over 400,000 times.

Social media users appeared to have appreciated the locals’ rescue efforts.

(SD-Agencies)