Kobi Graham, from the Australian reality TV show "Bondi Rescue", said that he was fortunate to have escaped paralysis and death when his neck was broken during a surfing wipeout.

The lifeguard star from Bondi Beach was surfing at Cape Solander in southern Sydney on Sunday when he crushed head-first on a reef, causing the two vertebrae in his neck to crack.

"All I was thinking was - hoping, praying - that I had movement because I had these really severe shooting pains down my arms," he told Network Ten television from a hospital bed as while he laid with a neck brace.

"As soon as I got to the surface, I was just screaming for help," he added.

"Bondi Rescue", which follows the daily work of lifeguards rounding Sydney's most beautiful beach, is broadcasted by the Network Ten. It is already in its sixth season and is also shown in Europe and New Zealand.

Graham's brother, Aaron, said that the hurt surfer told his rescuers how to alleviate his broken neck.

Aaron told Ten, "His background training in spinal management probably saved him."

Graham, who still needs to undergo surgery for his crushed vertebrae, said he was thankful he did not lose consciousness.

"I'm lucky I didn't get knocked out. I probably would have drowned," he said.