Cranbourne North resident Russell Irwin was assaulted with a tomahawk after coming to the defences of his neighbour.
Iwrin heard his terrified neighbour’s screams for help after a group of three armed men broke into her Lindenow Court property just after 7pm on Monday night, 1 February, launching over his fence and approaching the armed thugs.
A bloodied and bruised Mr Irwin suffered a fractured skull, seven lacerations to the head, a puncture wound to the back of his thigh and cuts and bruises on his back.
Police say one of the thugs used a weapon to strike Mr Irwin on the head before the group, believed to be armed with a tomahawk, rifle and baseball bat, fled on foot.
A GoFundMe page was established to raise money for Irwin that he would lose as a result of his injuries, with $6000 raised in the first 24 hours.
The final total was in-excess of $8479.
Mr Irwin’s cousin, Bree Martin, told Star News he managed to climb back over the fence before attempting to stop the offenders.
“One of the offenders pulled out a rifle and threatened him with that,” Ms Martin said.
“At this point Russell’s blood was boiling. He’d just gone from fighting two of the attackers and had tried to rip their balaclavas off so he could see them before he was struck by the third.”
“Russell would rather cop the blow instead of a woman. He wouldn’t look at it like he’s a hero”.
