A woman in the States, who successfully fended off a sex attacker during a jog, has taken to Instagram to encourage women to seek self-defence training should they ever find themselves in the same situation.

Kelly Herron stopped at a public restroom during a four-mile jog when she found herself confronted by a man who had been hiding in one of the bathroom stalls.

After struggling with her assailant on the bathroom floor, Kelly found herself using moves she had learned in a self-defence class before locking her attacker in the bathroom until police arrived at the scene.

 

My biggest running nightmare became reality- 4 miles into my long run Sunday afternoon, I stopped to use the restroom and was assaulted by a man hiding in a stall (that is my GPS in red lines). I fought for my life screaming("Not today, M**F**er!"), clawing his face, punching back, and desperately trying to escape his grip- never giving up. I was able to lock him in the bathroom until police arrived. Thankfully I just took a self-defense class offered at my work and utilized all of it. My face is stitched, my body is bruised, but my spirit is intact. #fightingchanceseattle #ballard #runnersafety #marathontraining #womensselfdefense #myballard #fightlikeagirl #fightback #dontbeavictim #nottodaymotherfucker #youcantbreakme #instarunners #garmin #garminvivosmarthr

A post shared by Kelly Herron (@run_kiwi_run) on Mar 6, 2017 at 10:48am PST

Speaking on Good Morning America, the young woman recalled the moment she realised her life was in danger.

"As I was drying my hands I became aware that something was wrong," she explained. "It was a fight on the bathroom floor."

"I had learned at the self-defence class to put hard bones in soft fleshy places, so I just started beating the side of his head with the side of my hand," Kelly explained.

 

FIGHT LIKE A SAVAGE! I might pay your $750,000 bail just to let my #runningsquad finish the job! #nottodaymotherfucker #nottodayexpletive #nottoday #selfdefense #womensselfdefense #runnersafety #instarunners #fightback #fightlikeagirl #runkiwirun #kellyherron #fightingchanceseattle #theultramindset #goodmorningamerica #GMA #goldengardens #nottodaymfer #fightlikeasavage @budopunk @rosieperezbrooklyn @kiro7seattle @mayoredmurray #areyoulistening

A post shared by Kelly Herron (@run_kiwi_run) on Mar 10, 2017 at 8:12pm PST

"All I could think was: ‘Not today, motherf*cker’. I was screaming. I was able to pull myself out through the front of the stall, because that door was jammed. I started to feel like I was going to lose consciousness." she continued.

"But then I got another surge of adrenaline, and I reached for the door and was able to get out."

 

I couldn't remain the silent, anonymous victim- there is a message of survival that is too important to remain untold. I'm grateful to have found the right people to help me tell it. Thank you @siemnykiro7 @kiro7seattle @dorimonsonshow @kiroradio973 @budopunk I hope this encourages women to #neverstopfighting #neverstoprunning #womensselfdefense @mayoredmurray – Are you listening!? #Iamasurvivor #notavictim #nottodaymotherfucker

A post shared by Kelly Herron (@run_kiwi_run) on Mar 8, 2017 at 9:52pm PST

Kelly took to Instagram to share two images of her attacker, Gary Matthew Steiner, while reminding him of her message, writing: "FIGHT LIKE A SAVAGE! I might pay your $750,000 bail just to let my running squad finish the job."

Relived Kelly made it out of the terrifying situation relatively unscathed, Instagram users offered support, with one writing: "You are a true hero, nice fighting . U kicked his ass."

"You absolute hero! Glad you're fine and he is locked up," wrote another while someone else added: "This makes me really motivated to get onto a self defence class! You are amazing!!"

Gary Steiner is reportedly facing charges of potential rape and assault.