Witnesses of sex assault urged to contact police

File Photo / NZ Herald

Three people who helped a young woman after she was sexually assaulted on Wednesday night are being urged to contact police.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thornton said the 19-year-old was grabbed from behind as she walked down a path near Wellington High School about 9pm on Wednesday.

She was pushed to the ground and assaulted before the attacker was scared off by a man walking along the path.

The man helped her to Tasman St, where another couple took her back to the scene to find her belongings before walking her to a local nearby home.

"We would really like to hear from these three people as soon as possible," Mr Thornton said.

The woman managed to poke her attacker in the eye during the struggle and Mr Thornton said it was possible he had an injury.

The offender is described as being of Maori or Asian descent, aged about 20, about 1.67 metres tall with short dark hair and acne on his cheeks.

He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black beanie and white sneakers and had a grey backpack over his shoulders.

Police say there is nothing to link the attack to another sexual assault, in Seatoun on May 14.