Chainsaw Victim: "I Was Ducking For My Life"

A Chicago man who was attacked by his chainsaw-wielding friend and neighbor Wednesday was released from the hospital Friday morning.

Police say Preston Smith, 55, and his neighbor, Anthony Metcalf, were hanging out late into the night in their Washington Heights neighborhood when they got into some sort of altercation, according to police. Metcalf is accused of pulling out a chainsaw and wound up slicing Smith's neck and hands, nearly slicing off some of the man's fingers.

"I was sitting in the car finna (sic) leave, he came out of nowhere with the chainsaw saying, 'What have you got to say now?' I couldn't say anything, I was ducking for my life," Smith said Friday at a news conference at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

The attack cut through the bone in Smith's left hand and severed tendons. Doctors say he'll undergo a long period of recovery, including one more surgery and several month of rehab.

"I feel like I'm very blessed. I'm very blessed that I didn't lose my hand, that he didn't hit me in the face or anywhere else," Smith said.

Metcalf (pictured, below) was charged with one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and was due in court Friday, police said.

Smith said the two have been friends for more than 30 years -- he even served as a pallbearer at Metcalf's father's funeral -- but he now says that friendship is over.

"I can't be friends with someone who tried to kill me," Smith said.

Smith says he had just got off work when the two had "words" over $30 Metcalf owed him. He also claims Metcalf was drunk at the time.