CCTV footage has emerged of a Russian hospital doctor punching a patient who collapsed and later died.

The incident took place in the city of Belgorod, 670km south of the capital, Moscow, on December 29.

The patient is believed to have earlier kicked a nurse, after which the doctor punched him in the head, Russian media reported. The footage, aired on 360 Padmaskovye TV channel, shows the doctor trying to resuscitate the victims after the punch-up.

Investigators think it was a case of "involuntary manslaughter", one official told Russian TV, but have launched a criminal case.

A member of the local investigations committee said they believed there was no malicious intent in the doctor's actions.

Relatives identified the patient as Yevgeniy Bakhtin, 56, a resident of Belgorod.