A father is lucky to be alive after he was stabbed while chasing down suspected thieves in northern Adelaide early this morning.
Police received reports two men were breaking into cars on Gonis Circuit in Evanston Gardens before 2.15am.
The 42-year-old father told 9News he woke to noise and decided to confront the pair.
"I chucked some shorts on and went out and as I got out there yelled at them, 'What the f--- are they doing?'" he told 9News.
"They freaked out and took off in different directions."
One of the men, who was armed with scissors, ran down Seabrook Street to escape.
The father chased him down and was assaulted and suffered stab wounds to his back.
"He ended up rolling over and stabbing me a couple of times. I just felt the two punctures near my spine in my back," he said.
He said he lost blood as he limped back home and collapsed in his hallway.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and took the father to hospital for his serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
"I could have ended up dead. If they got in the right spot, could have ended up in a wheelchair permanently, paralysed," he said.
"It's scary to think how close I could have been."
Police said they searched the area for the two men, but could not find them.
Witnesses reported the pair had fled the scene.
Police urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.