A flower seller reportedly rescued a woman from being gang raped by 25 men.

Gaia Guarnotta was walking through Florence when she was approached by a group of “drunk boys” at 11.30pm near Piazza della Republica, she wrote in a Facebook post.

The 25-year-old said the men began by joking and asking for a selfie before the mood changed.

“At some point, I can't even explain how they surrounded me, but they started saying phrases like ‘come with us, we'll show you a good time, 25 against one is a good night, we'll have a gang bang, we'll make you enjoy it',” she said.

After she refused, the photographer from Livorno said she was called a “stupid b****” and a “whore” before being dragged by the arm.

“They chucked their drinks and straws over me and one of them, or maybe a couple of them, spat on me or tried to spit on me, while all the others were filming on their mobile phones."

Dr Antic-Stauber details how one rape victim's trauma from Srbrenica stayed with her

As she struggled to get away Hossein Alamgir, a flower seller from Bangladesh, stepped in and took her to safety, she wrote.

She added: “Obviously, as soon as they saw me leave with him they started calling me an arab c***-sucking whore.”

Mr Alamgir gave her a handkerchief, took her to get something to eat and drink and handed her a rose.

“If Hossein had not been here that evening I would not have been able to tell my story now," she wrote. "Not knowing how to thank him, I gave him a passport photo of mine so that he could remember forever the face of the girl he saved that night.

“Thanks God there are people in the world like Hossein, who help without wanting anything in return. His is a face I will never forget.”

Mr Alamgir has lived in Florence since 2005, according to Direttanews. The 58-year-old confirmed he had been given a photo to “remember forever the girl I saved”.

Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Show all 10 1 /10 Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Brazilian women march in Sao Paulo during a protest following the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl There have been calls for protests to end to what campaigners call Brazil's 'culture of rape' after the attack Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl An online campaign has been set up in response to the crime, using the hashtag #EstuproNuncaMais, meaning 'rape never again' Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl The 16-year-old victim was attacked in a poor neighbourhood in the west of the city on 21 May 2016 Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Two of the attackers posted pictures and video on Twitter of the assault, which has shocked the country Rex Features Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Brazilian women protest in front of the Candelaria Church in Rio de Janeiro AFP/Getty Images Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Seven men have been charged in connection with the attack AFP/Getty Images Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Women's underwear and photos from Brazilian photographer Marcio Freitas displayed on Copacabana beach during a protest by non-governmental organization Rio de Paz (Rio of Peace) against rape and violence against women REUTERS Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Women's underwear smeared with paint is seen during a protest against rape and violence against women in Brasilia, Brazil REUTERS Feminist protests demand end to violence against women in Brazil after gang rape of teenage girl Demonstrators attend a protest against rape and violence against women in Brasilia, Brazil REUTERS

He said he approached the group after seeing Ms Guarnotta becoming frightened. Telling the “scumbags” to leave her alone, the flower seller grabbed the crying woman by the arm and quickly took her away.

Ms Guarnotta said she had decided to post her story to show why feminism is important.