A woman has spoken out after she claims was savagely attacked whilst on an early morning run in a south Manchester park.
Having only recently moved to the Fallowfield area of Manchester, the woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, says she was attacked by a man when out running at Platt Fields park before work at around 4am on Sunday, January 30.
It was still dark at the time and said she feared that she could've been raped had she not have fought off her attacker.
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She admitted she feels 'lucky' after being left with bruises and needing various bandages for her minor injuries following the alleged ordeal, and that it 'may not be the case for someone else.'
Speaking to the M.E.N the woman said: "I run around that park every morning before work and do laps in the evening with my partner and have always felt safe.
"It is close to residential areas and there is often a police presence in the area, so I have never felt in danger.
"You often pass the same people and are never too far away from somebody being able to help you.
"I was running up the back of the playing fields with one earphone in, so I was aware of my surroundings and felt like I knew what was around me, when a man suddenly grabbed my neck from behind.
"He threw me onto the ground and there was a big scuffle. I hit my head.
"I was thinking, okay, I don't want anything bad to happen to me and I could be sexually assaulted here, I need to try and get back up and fight.
"He was kneeling on top of me pushing me and pinning me down, but I just kept kicking and punching and telling myself not to stop.
"It led to a few facial wounds and wounds to the back of my head, I had a bruised neck and sprained wrist and ankle.
"It was a blur but I somehow managed to get out from under him as I kept hitting him, which allowed me to just dart and run as fast as I could."
It was a frightening ordeal that has left the woman, who lives in the area with her partner, too afraid to go out again for her usual jog.
She has instead joined a gym nearby.
The woman said that it was important for her to raise awareness and remind other women in the area to keep vigilant.
"I called my boyfriend who came back home and I went to the hospital to have my injuries looked at.
"It was then when I realised that I was lucky to have gotten away and that I could have been raped.
"With the recent events of Ashling Murphy, and stories of girls being spiked on nights out and constant catcalling in the area, it is one of those things that makes you worry as a woman."
She told the M.E.N that despite a lack of cameras covering the park, she is hoping CCTV from nearby shops and bars could pick up the offender as investigations continue.
She described her attacker as having brown hair with a scouse accent, aged in his 20's or 30's.
She has reported the incident to Greater Manchester Police, who have confirmed they are investigating.
A spokesperson from the force said: "We were contacted at around 11pm on Sunday 30 January to a report of an assault in Platt Fields Park off Wilmslow Road, Manchester, in the early hours of that day.
"No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.
"Any information should be passed to us online or via 101 quoting incident 3101 of 30/01/2022."
"Details can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
