Grant Whelan, a 76-year-old retired farmer, was allegedly hogtied, dragged outside, and forced to watch his home burn down by two masked men armed with a crowbar in Coles Bay, Tasmania. The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, July 11, with police reporting that the assailants demanded Whelan unlock a safe containing guns.
Attack and Theft
Police said the two men assaulted Whelan, bound his hands and feet together, and forced him to unlock a safe before taking guns and cash. They fled in Whelan's Toyota HiLux, which was later found submerged in a river. An off-duty firefighter spotted a red glow near the property, leading to the discovery of Whelan bound and gagged outside while his home was engulfed in flames.
Victim's Condition
Whelan's son-in-law, Reid Hooker, told ABC that Whelan has "some horrific bruising and lacerations to his arms" from defending himself. Hooker added that Whelan's condition deteriorated on Sunday due to fluid on his lungs, placing stress on his heart. "Nobody in the world deserves that sort of treatment. It's just disgraceful," Hooker said.
Community Response
A GoFundMe page was set up by Whelan's daughter, Chantel Yates, who noted that her father never held insurance. "Dad is old school and never held insurance, so there is nothing coming to help him start again," she wrote. Yates said funds will cover immediate needs like clothing, medical costs, and temporary housing, then go toward rebuilding his home. She also mentioned that a Bravery Medal, awarded in Australia for protecting others, was destroyed in the fire.
