Harry Styles scales railings to escape crowd chaos

Harry Styles scaled metal railings in a desperate attempt to escape a crush of teenage fans who mobbed the One Direction star as he strolled through New York City on Monday (01Jul13).

The What Makes You Beautiful singer was returning to his hotel in the Big Apple while on a break from the latest leg of the band's Take Me Home tour when he was spotted by devotees who raced to greet the star.

Styles' minder attempted to keep the crowd at bay, but the 19-year-old heartthrob had to scramble up metal railings and enter via a back entrance to escape the mob.

Video footage taken at the scene shows girls clawing at Styles' T-shirt as he climbed the railings outside the building.

An onlooker said, "Harry was mobbed. There were girls everywhere. It may sound fun, but it looked scary."