A New York City police detective who was stabbed 10 times during an attempted robbery in the Bronx said Tuesday he is grateful to be alive as he continues his recovery.

Detective Jose Mercedes spoke Tuesday at the Detectives’ Endowment Association headquarters in Lower Manhattan about the attack, which occurred nearly two weeks ago in the Norwood section of the Bronx while he was on vacation.

“I’m happy to be standing emotionally. I feel happy to be alive,” Mercedes said.

Mercedes said the incident forced him to confront the kind of violence he has spent years investigating as a police officer.

“I realize I was bleeding a lot. I had lost a lot of blood, and I thought about other cases that I’ve investigated. And I thought about what happens when you lose a significant amount of blood,” he said.

According to Mercedes, he was standing at the trunk of his car when two men on an e-bike approached him from behind. He said he was targeted for the gold chain around his neck.

“I’m a young person, I work out regularly, and I just wasn’t expecting it to happen to me. One of those necklaces, my mom got them for me, and it did have some sentimental value,” Mercedes said.

Mercedes said he fought back and identified himself as a police officer during the encounter.

“I told them in English. I told them in Spanish that I was a police officer. They didn’t care,” he said.

Scott Munro, president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, praised Mercedes’ actions after the attack.

“They picked on this giant here. Well, guess what? This giant chased them five blocks, bleeding,” Munro said.

Mercedes said he was released from the hospital the following day.

“You’re both fugitives from justice,” he said.

The two suspects, D’Angelo Caraballo and Sneider Mejia, described as undocumented Dominican nationals with lengthy criminal histories, were arrested five days later in Massachusetts.

“I’ve been investigating crimes for a long time, and at this time I just wanted to enjoy my vacation, my time off. I wasn’t expecting this,” Mercedes said.

Mercedes has not yet returned to work and is focused on regaining mobility in his left hand. The two suspects have been extradited to New York and are expected to be arraigned in the Bronx on Wednesday.

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