A mobile phone may have saved the life of a man who came under fire in an alleged bow and arrow attack in rural New South Wales.

A 43-year-old man stopped his car at his driveway at a Nimbin property on Wednesday morning and noticed a man he knew, reportedly armed with the archery gear, NSW police said.

The resident whipped out his mobile phone to take a photo of the armed man who was poised to fire.

A man has been charged after he allegedly fired a bow and arrow at another man in Nimbin today. Photograph: NSW Police Force

The arrow pierced the man’s mobile phone and it hit him in the chin, causing a small cut.

Officers arrested a 39-year-old man at the scene.

The man was taken to Nimbin police station where he was charged with assault and damage to property.

He was granted conditional bail to appear in Lismore local court in mid-April.

Nimbin is 70km west of Byron Bay and is best known for being the marijuana capital of Australia.