<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A tradie has relived his road rage nightmare after surviving an axe attack following a minor crash.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rico Nekelo says he's lucky to be alive but now has to cope with the mental and physical scars from the attack in Melbourne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was on his way to see a mate last month but instead came close to death.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-on-run-allegedly-stabbing-two-people-melbourne-dandenong-north-epping/5b771701-2d61-46c0-b028-d8577f20318c" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Man on the run after allegedly stabbing two people in Melbourne</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"On the scene I was definitely dying. I was getting cold and yeah, my eyes are starting to shut," he told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The horror road rage attack unfolded after an erratic driver collided with Nekelo's car in Cranbourne on April 6.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 21-year-old said he copped an axe to the back, twice.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/axe-attack-melbouorne-tradie-road-rage/500a65d3-dc94-4640-b62a-1bfa5ada8320" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I pretty much got out of the car, and he got out at the same time with an axe and Yeah, I just started running," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sunshine-west-man-hit-twice-by-car-during-alleged-wild-brawl-on-melbourne-footpath/5379da6b-0365-4642-a796-f8a0152bc6b1" rel="" target="" title="Man hit twice by car during alleged wild brawl on Melbourne footpath"><strong><span>Man hit twice by car during alleged wild brawl on Melbourne footpath</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His injuries were so severe his surgeon said he was lucky to be alive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His sister Charlotte Vemoa said it was a "very violent attack for something that was very minor".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Rekelo's out of hospital, he's still carrying the scars of the nightmare ordeal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I would say it's, it's been very hard as an older sibling to watch," Vemoa said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His mother, Mate Carnahan, said it had been mentally hard for loved ones, who felt helpless and were desperate for support.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So the victim assistance program. I've been trying to reach out to them since the hospital, so maybe five weeks now," Nekelo said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-iran-war-israel-army-captures-strategic-castle-in-lebanon/7cc473b5-6ac8-4715-8ea5-fe7d6b0b4a63" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His mother said the government was failing victims.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He didn't ask this to happen to him. They're failing," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His alleged attacker was arrested at the scene but arrested pending further inquiries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> Meanwhile, Nekelo will be unable to work for months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> "It's an everyday struggle," he said.</span></div></div>