‘NCIS’ star Pauley Perrette has described the moment she was attacked on Friday morning, revealing that she "almost died” during the assault. Perrette said she was attacked by a ‘psychotic homeless man’ and that she feels ‘grateful to be alive’ following the ordeal.

Pauley PerrettePauley Perrette was attacked on Friday morning in Hollywood.

On twitter Perrette shared her account of the event, first admitting she was "hesitant about tweeting" the news. "I was walking across my street to a new guest house I bought to meet my architect. On my street, I was jumped by a VERY psychotic homeless man.”

"He grabbed me forcefully, pinned my arm, punched me in the nose, forehead, repeatedly telling me he was going to kill me. Then he showed me how he was going to kill me.” The man then kept repeating his name ‘William’ and the actress said she began to ‘pray her heart out’, while fearing for her life.

In an attempt to calm the man down, Perrette then told him, "William is a beautiful name. I have a nephew named William.” The man then continued to punch the actress, before telling her “get the fuck out of here.”

More: View our Pauley Perrette gallery

Perrette then managed to run away, before collapsing on the sidewalk. She later managed to text a friend and a police officer from her church, who helped her complied a sketch of the man. The man was later found and arrested for felony assault.

The LAPD later confirmed the story to Entertainment Online, saying that they had booked a 45-year-old white male named David Merck for felony battery after arresting him at a Hollywood 7-11 around 6 p.m. He is still in custody and bail is set at $100,000.

"I am shaken and traumatised," Perrette concluded her Twitter message. "My house, my beloved Hollywood. My beloved homeless people that I spend my life protecting. ...My life changed tonight. We need full mental health care. We need housing and help for the homeless. I almost died tonight."