Kate Upton has described the moment she was knocked off a rock by a large wave during a topless photo shoot.

The model and actress was being photographed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in Aruba when she was struck.

The footage of the accident was posted on the magazine’s Instagram page and Upton can be seen posing in yellow bikini bottoms with a large tulle skirt and her hands over her chest.

Just as she is talking to a member of the crew a large wave knocks her forwards into the water.

Upton narrates the clip saying: “The next wave coming, it didn’t look that large from my point of view but it must have hit the rock just right and caught on and the skirt was wet with all the tulle and was very heavy.

“It dragged me down, everybody was very scared.”

The video shows crew members rushing towards Upton to help her up out of the water.

Upton has appeared on the cover of the magazine on numerous occasions.