One American is dead and another was left begging for his life after a botched coup was stopped in its tracks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Chilling footage caught the moment two of the plotters were seized trying to flee the country across the Congo River before groveling for mercy to Congolese soldiers as they lay bleeding in the street.

Marcel Malanga, 21, accompanied his former refugee father Christian to the central African country from their home in Utah to lead the coup against the autocratic government of President Felix Tshisekedi.

But the father was shot dead and the son was arrested alongside two American co-conspirators during the bungled putsch as the US government scrambled to distance itself from involvement.

'I am shocked by the events this morning and very worried by the reports of American citizens allegedly being involved,' Lucy Tamlyn, the US ambassador to the DRC, posted on X, formerly Twitter.

'Rest assured that we are cooperating with authorities in DRC to the fullest extent possible, as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any American citizen involved.'

Also seized was Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a 36-year-old former cannabis dealer from Maryland whose passport was gleefully displayed by the victorious troops.

And the Congolese authorities said another American along with a Brit were being questioned in custody.

'An attempted coup d'etat has been stopped by the defense and security forces,' said General Sylvain Ekenge in a message broadcast on national television.

'Around 50, including three American citizens - were arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation by the specialized services of the Armed Forces,' Ekenge told Reuters.