'Lucky to be living:' Woman's arm re-attached after alleged machete attack

Melissa Norris, 54, told police that she was in the living room she shared with boyfriend Ryan Alexander Tyndall, 27. When she asked Tyndall for her Xanax, he told her it was in the bedroom. She said that when she walked into the bedroom, she felt a sharp pain in her arm and saw that her arm had been cut, according to court records.

Norris ran to the home of Tyndall's father nearby where he called 911.

The senior Tyndall helped Norris to stop the bleeding before medics arrived.

While officers were on the scene, Ryan Tyndall drove up in the Norris' car and was taken into custody, officials said. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Tyndall was treated and released from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and then taken to the Cumberland County Detention Center. His criminal record shows two other arrests for assault, in 2014 and 2016.

Norris was airlifted to Duke Medical Center, where she underwent emergency surgery.

"They did put the arm back on. Yes they did," said her father, Gary Jackson.

"I don't know how good it's going to take, but she's in a good place. I think, the good lord willing, everything will work out good for her. She is lucky to be living."