A 19-year-old woman narrowly escaped being raped in South Philadelphia early Wednesday, police say, and now authorities are asking the public's help to find her attacker.

Police said the young woman was walking on Wharton Street near 13th about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday when a man crept up behind her, pushed her to the ground and tore the top of her dress down. The woman struggled with the man, and surveillance stills released by police on Friday show her pushing him away by his throat.

The woman then maced her attacker, police said, and he fled north on Clarion Street.

Police are hoping that surveillance images of the man will help detectives get him off the street. He's described as being about 37 years old, 5 feet 7, 225 pounds and built medium. He wore a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants at the time of the attack.

Tipsters should contact the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251 or 3252.