Snake bites Animal Planet’s Robert Irwin on the face in incident reminiscent of attack on dad Steve Irwin

Robert Irwin has been bitten on the face by a snake in a frightening attack eerily similar to one on his famous father decades earlier.

Irwin was trying to rescue the “good sized” carpet python and filming all the action for an Animal Planet special when the snake struck, narrowly missing puncturing Irwin’s left eye.

In the lead up to the attack Irwin asks the snake “Are you going to be grumpy or are you going to be nice?”

But it’s clear the snake was far from happy.

“It’s alright you’re going to go back home. You’re alright, there’s a good snake. Aren’t you just the coolest?” Irwin says moments before the snake strikes.

“I’ve got to tell you though, when I first found this guy there is no way ...oh!”

WATCH BOTH SNAKE ATTACKS IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

A cranky carpet python also proved too much to handle for Steve Irwin who was also caught on film being bitten in one of his original Crocodile Hunter documentaries.

Robert Irwin posted vision of both attacks on his Instagram page to promote Crikey! It’s the Irwins - Life in Lockdown special.

It’s clear Irwin was able to see the funny side of the incident, writing: “Wait for it. After a snake rescue with this cheeky carpet python while filming for ‘Crikey! It’s the Irwins’ it brought back fun memories of a very similar situation that happened decades before in one of the original crocodile hunter documentaries!

“Maybe it was her way of saying ‘thanks’ for being rescued!”

Some of Irwin’s famous followers, including his sister Bindi, were quick to offer a comment.

Lisa Wilkinson, host of Ten’s The Project, wrote” Oh Robert!!! I just jumped! Hope you’re OK...you are SO your father’s son.

Rove McManus said it was a badge of honour while Bindi said it was”incredible”.

Carpet pythons can grow to 3m and are non-venomous. They can be found throughout northern, eastern and southern Australia.