Disturbing footage of a man accosting a couple who were wearing medical face masks to protect themselves from coronavirus has emerged.

The video, which was shot earlier this week, shows an Asian couple walking along the platform at Times Square 42nd Street subway station in New York City.

The pair appear to have just got off the train when the man begins harassing them both and yelling insults.

An Asian couple wearing face masks on the subway were harassed by the man in maroon, left,

A man followed the pair up and down the platform as they tried to leave

'I'm not f***ing playing. I'm calling the cops!' he threatens.

The couple, who do not respond or even acknowledge the man's barbs, continue to walk arm-in-arm as they ignore him.

As the couple attempt to make their way down a staircase, another individual appears and attempts to shield and protect the couple from the man's threats.

At one point, the harassment becomes so great that the couple are forced to turn around and walk back along the platform to avoid confrontation.

The man continues to hurl abuse at the couple who remained completely calm throughout

Eventually another member of the public, wearing a black puffer jacket, came to their aide to chaperone them

Their guardian chaperone follows them and even takes the arm of the woman who appears to be shocked by the treatment they are receiving.

'You wanna kill me? You wanna f***ing kill me?' the man yells at them as the abuse continues.

New York City is encouraging citizens who are being harassed due to race, nation of origin or other identities to report such discrimination or harassment to the NYC Commission on Human Rights by calling 311.

The abuse continued as the couple made their way down stairs and out of sight