Slashed across the neck with a pen knife, grandfather John Hall does not know how he is still alive today.
The 62-year-old needed 15 stitched across his throat after his jugular vein was exposed when a troubled friend he had put up at his flat launched a terrifying attack.
Ross Pert has since been jailed for the assault that John believes could have easily left him dead.
And today the traumatised victim has told ChronicleLive how he will never again take his life for granted.
John said: "I have been so lucky. I count my blessings every day.
"It's changed my life, and in some ways it's changed my life for the better."
John, from Heaton, Newcastle, had known Pert for around three years before he was attacked in May last year.
The friends met when they both attended an art group run by a local church and bonded over their mutual interest in computers.
And when Pert began suffering from mental health problems, John did his best to help him.
"I had been to see him and he says he hadn't been too well," John explained.
"A few days later he rang us to ask if I could come to help him. I went and got him and brought him to where I live now."
Dad-of-four John said Pert had been staying with him for a few days when his mental health deteriorated further and he began to get paranoid
Then at around 9am one morning he launched a horrifying attack with a pen-knife that was on his key ring, minutes after John had made him porridge for breakfast.
"I just says 'look mate I'm going to try and get you some help', and he just went mad," said John.
"He was threatening to cut himself at first. Then he just lashed out."
John said Pert cut him across the neck before he attempted to get the knife off him.
"He went to attack us again and that's when I thought I had to try and get the knife off him," John explained.
"I was thinking he was going to kill me. There was lots of blood.
"The adrenaline running through me was unbelievable."
After seeing his jugular vein exposed in the mirror, John managed to flee his flat.
And when he managed to get to a safe distance away he dialled 999.
Medics were able to repair his gaping neck wound with 15 stitches.
But John believes that had the cut been any deeper he might not have survived.
"The policeman says he just couldn't believe I've survived that," he said. "I've just been so lucky."
Pert, of Shipley Rise, Byker, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent at Newcastle Crown Court.
And in April the 37-year-old was handed an extended sentence made up of six years behind bars and four on licence.
John said he still living with the trauma of the attack.
But he believes it might not have happened if Pert had been given more help with his mental health problems.
"I was just trying to help him," he said.
"I don't think he should have been left alone but he was scared to go to the hospital."
"I do still try and help people but I wouldn't let anyone stay in my flat again."
