Actor David Arquette has said he is "lucky to be alive" after sustaining a neck wound in a recent wrestling match.
The 47-year-old, who has been training and taking part in wrestling bouts for six months, was competing in a so-called 'Death Match' against Nick Gage on November 16 in Los Angeles when he sustained a cut to his neck which then became infected.
"I'm lucky to be alive," Arquette told People magazine. "If I had been cut in the jugular, I probably wouldn't be here right now."
Arquette told People that his neck had been cut with one of "those florescent light tubes" that are used during Death Matches.
"I got cut and started seeing dripping blood and I panicked," he recounted.
"I turned around too quickly and the end of a broken bulb got me in my neck. It was gruesome."
Arquette received stitches for the wound but was back in hospital the next day "with the shivers and a swollen neck".
He required surgery because part of the muscle in his neck had been cut.
"Doctors call that 'The Box' because it's such a dangerous place to get punctured," he explained. "It was really scary."
Explaining his decision to wrestle, Arquette said: "Eighteen years ago, I won a WCW [World Championship Wrestling] World Heavyweight Belt.
"But that win was a big disgrace to the belt and the wrestling community and ever since people have been criticising me. I really wanted to prove myself and stand up for myself."
Arquette said he intends to continue wrestling, but will never take part in another Death Match.
"I didn't know the extent of how hardcore those things are," he admitted. "I was in over my head for sure."
