A Suffolk police officer who was nearly stabbed to death while chasing down a suspect left a hospital Monday on his road to a miraculous recovery.

Hundreds turned out outside Stony Brook University Hospital Monday as Officer Christopher Racioppo was to be released. Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart were among those there to praise Racioppo, his fellow officers and the medical team who worked with Racioppo over the last two weeks.

Racioppo was stabbed in the thigh earlier this month after an attempted traffic stop in Patchogue. Police say the suspect was attempting to evade arrest for DWI after causing a crash April 10.

The stabbing cut major arteries and veins in the officer's leg, causing major blood loss.

Racioppo underwent emergency surgery and remained in critical condition for over a week.

A doctor says the officer would have died if the artery that was severed had not been controlled within 20 minutes. Officials hailed the work of a retired NYPD officer and a former Marine for helping Racioppo with the suspect and in aiding him before he was taken to a hospital.

"They were able to repair the artery and the vein but not without tremendous blood loss and his body went into shock and it was touch and go for several days," says Suffolk PBA President Noel Degerolamo. "We thought we might be losing our own officer that night. Fortunately by the grace of God and the efforts of those involved we did not lose him and we're here today." 

Doctors now say that with rehabilitation, Racioppo could make a full recovery.

Racioppo had been intubated for several days before turning a corner, leaving doctors confident Monday was the day he could head home.

Racioppo has been a police officer for six years, with his time split between New York City and Suffolk.

In a statement, Racioppo says, "I am happy to be going home, and will now begin the long road to my recovery ... I will continue to serve my community after my recovery."

He thanked all of the officers and bystanders who made the life-saving decisions on the night of the incident, those who worked within the hospital, his family and friends and several others.

Racioppo's accused attacker, Jonathan Nunez of Centereach, is facing charges.