Viewers anticipated a grisly animal-versus-man battle when a naturist told them he planned to be swallowed by a giant Amazonian anaconda.

But Paul Rosolie has now sparked a social media backlash after he called the stunt off, panicking when the snake munched down on his head.

Discovery Channel says the 'eaten alive' experiment was called off after it become clear he'd be seriously injured if it carried on.

Angry tweeters say the programme should have been called 'nibbled alive' instead.