A 79-year-old man is recovering in hospital after being brutally bashed with a golf club during a terrifying home invasion that left him requiring emergency surgery and fighting to save his eye.
Violent Early Morning Attack
Gold Coast resident Rex Nordstrom was sitting in his recliner at his Bacardi Ct home when four hooded thieves, armed with a golf club, climbed his fence and broke in during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
"The bloke walked in, hit me first. First word was 'money'. And I stood up and said, 'no money'. And then I got whacked again," Nordstrom recounted of the frightening confrontation.
Wife Hears Chaotic Struggle
His wife Trish was upstairs when she heard the violent struggle unfold below. She described the 30-second attack as "chaotic, hectic" as blood stains marked the scene of the desperate fight.
The injuries sustained during the assault proved severe enough to require three hours of emergency surgery for Nordstrom. The attack came dangerously close to costing him his eye.
"The surgeon saw me before. He said if it had been half an inch further that way, it would have popped the eyeball, I'd have lost the eyeball, it would have been game over," Nordstrom revealed about the narrow escape.
Crime Spree Continues Across Border
The four intruders remain on the run after continuing their crime spree across the border. During the break-in, Trish's red Mercedes was stolen - a birthday gift from her husband in 2018 that held sentimental value.
"I just hope that they catch these blokes," Nordstrom said, expressing his desire for justice following the traumatic event.
Couple Determined to Stay Put
Despite the violent ordeal that left Nordstrom hospitalized, the couple have no plans on moving from their home. They remain determined to continue living in their community despite the frightening experience.
In a display of remarkable resilience, Nordstrom could not resist a shot at his attacker's technique, saying his "golf swing's terrible" and that he would have "liked to have throttled him."
"His golf swing is terrible, good for a burglar but no good for a golfer," he quipped, before adding with defiance: "I'd love you to come back. I'd love to talk to you."
