Screen protector: Australian man's smartphone blocks arrow attack

The man was filming a confrontation with a man armed with a bow outside his home

A picture shows an arrow that pierced a smartphone after an incident in Nimbin, Australia. NSW Police via Reuters

An Australian man was saved by his smartphone when he confronted a man armed with a bow outside his home, police said on Thursday.

The lucky escape occurred when the 43 year old returned home to see the suspect, who police said was known to him, waiting outside his home in Nimbin, a small town 150 kilometres south of Brisbane.

"The resident held up his mobile phone to take a photo of the armed man who then engaged the bow and was ready to fire," a police statement said.

"It’s alleged the man fired the arrow at the resident which pierced through the man’s mobile phone causing the phone to hit him in the chin.

"It left a small laceration that didn’t require medical treatment."

A man, 39, was arrested at the scene and charged, police said.