Heartbreaking picture emerges from Las Vegas shooting tragedy at Mandalay Bay

A heartbreaking picture of a man appearing to shelter a woman amid the chaos on the Las Vegas strip has emerged.

The picture taken by Getty photographer David Becker shows a man hunched over a woman's body, appearing to protect her from the shots fired at the music festival.

The woman lies on the ground with her eyes closed. The couple's identity and their medical condition remains unknown.

A man lays on top of a woman as others flee the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds. Photo / Getty Images

Las Vegas police have confirmed almost 60 people had been killed and more than 500 were injured during the event when automatic gunfire rang out in the crowded open-air festival on Sunday night.

Witnesses could be seen ducking for cover and running for their lives on social media, with many describing how people were running anyway they could or hiding under cars, bleachers or the stage.

Recording artist Jason Aldean performs during the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, before the shooting started. Photo / Getty Images

Canadian Quinn Mell-Cobb was in the venue with his girlfriend when he said the shooting began.

"I saw my girlfriend go down so I was worried she might have been hit," he said.

"It sounded like it was coming from everywhere ... It's one of those situations you never think you're going to be in."