WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES:
A WA police officer lost a litre of blood and received 25 stitches to his head after being attacked with a Samurai sword on the job in Rockingham on Wednesday.
Gruesome images of the senior constable's injuries were released on Thursday afternoon as the WA Police Union highlighted the dangers faced by officers across the state.
WAPU President George Tilbury said the officer - a 55-year-old father-of-four - was lucky to be alive after the alleged attack at a home in Parkin Street, after police attended over reports of family violence.
Police claim the man left the house before the officers arrived but while they conducted inquires at the address the man returned and attacked the senior constable with a Samurai sword.
The officer was struck to the head and sustained a large gash and a fractured skull. He also required 25 stitches to fix the wound and remains in a stable condition at Royal Perth Hospital.
Mr Tilbury said it was merely the latest example of the danger faced by officers but said he didn't want to use the case to try and force the WA government to reconsider its stance on the police's pay model.
"These are horrendous injuries and highlight the dangers and difficulties police officers face on a daily basis when they put their lives on the line," he said.
"I don't want to highlight this and make it political and relate it to our pay plan at all, but what this is is another incident where one of our members has been attacked, and they are attacked on a daily basis.
"But this is so vicious and cowardly that it's something that now everyone is interested in because this officer could have lost his life."
Gruesome images of the senior constable's injuries were released by WAPU on Thursday afternoon.
Mr Tilbury added that the officer, despite his injuries, was recovering well in hospital.
"Surprisingly he's in good spirits because he has sustained some serious injuries. This police officer is very lucky to be alive."
The father-of-four was left with a huge gash on his head from the alleged attack.
A 45-year- old man of Beeliar has been charged with breaching a violence restraining order, being armed in a way to cause fear, criminal damage and intent to maim by unlawful wounding.
He made a brief appearance at Rockingham Magistrates Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody to appear in court again on August 2.