A machete-wielding rapist who attacked a pregnant woman in South Africa was hacked to death by her husband.

The attack happened when the rapist broke into a house in Tongaat, north of Durban, shortly before 11am on Monday.

Emergency workers said the man – who was armed with a long-handled machete called a panga – then attempted to rape a woman who was five months pregnant.

But the woman’s screams were heard by her husband who came running into help her from a nearby bedroom.

He grabbed the machete and hacked the attacker in the head and arms with it, Times Live reports. The attacker bled to death.

Staff for Reaction Unit SA, a private emergency response organisation, were called to the scene around 11am and found the attacker’s body along with the machete.

Company spokesman Prem Balram said: ‘Upon arrival the suspect was found lying outside the home bleeding excessively from injuries to his head and arms.’

Police were later called and arrested the husband while they investigate.