DISTURBING CCTV footage shows a 13-year-old girl desperately fighting off her would-be kidnapper who followed her home from school in Long Island, New York, on Tuesday.

The rattled victim luckily escaped from the man, as Nassau County authorities confirmed they had arrested a suspect in the attack.

The suspected kidnapper grabbed a hold of the teen outside her front door Credit: PIX11

The suspected kidnapper fled the scene on foot Credit: PIX11

After frantically escaping from the man, she ran towards the door Credit: PIX11

The girl, who has not been named, told PIX11 that the stranger was closely following her as she walked from Lawrence Road Middle School to her home a mile and a half away at just after noon.

She said: "I was thinking, why not let him go in front of me because there was something strange about him."

She told WVLT: "He was trying to take me somewhere or something like that. I was screaming. I was trying to defend myself.

"He tried stopping me from screaming. He grabbed my neck because I had to bend my back because he was trying to still cover my mouth.”

CCTV footage from the girl's doorstep camera shows the man attempted to chase her, before grabbing her from behind and covering her mouth with his hands.

I was screaming. I was trying to defend myself 13-year-old girl, victim

The teen then successfully escapes from him but a moment later he manages to grab her yet again.

The suspect then tried to drag her behind nearby parked cars.

The girl frantically continued to fight him off and was ultimately able to run up to her front door and knock relentlessly on it.

Her family member heard the banging and let her in.

That family member then walked outside and confronted the attempted kidnapper, prompting him to flee the scene on foot, according to authorities.

The teen stressed that although the man didn't say a word to her, she was sure he was trying to kidnap her.

Detective Mike Bitsko said: “She fought for her life. She was able to get home, and she was able to call us.

"We were able to do our job and apprehend this individual, and now, this individual is off the streets of this neighbourhood."

She banged on the door and a family member heard her, prompting them to open the door and let her in Credit: PIX11

The suspect was then on her front lawn, before a family member came to confront him Credit: PIX11

The family member proceeded to confront him, before pushing him Credit: PIX11