'He's lost everything': Man recovering after robbers tie him up and burn down his house

A peaceful life on Tasmania's east coast was shattered for Grant Whelan, a 76-year-old avid fisherman and history enthusiast, when two masked men broke into his Coles Bay home early Saturday morning. The intruders allegedly bound his hands and feet with cable ties, assaulted him, and demanded access to his gun safe.

“

Dad is like a salt-of-the-earth Tasmanian.

After stealing nine of his guns, some cash, and his ute, the alleged offenders set Whelan's house on fire before fleeing the scene. Firefighters responded to the blaze, which completely destroyed the home. "There's nothing, he's lost everything," said his daughter, Chantel Yates.

“

There's nothing, he's lost everything.

Ms. Yates noted that her father, described as a "salt-of-the-earth Tasmanian," is very active in the local community and a part of shooting clubs. She recalled his bravery in 1995 when he was awarded a medal for saving a fisherman's life on the notoriously rough west coast of Tasmania. "There was a decision they had to make about whether to put their own lives at risk in order to save that life. And dad made the call and did it," she said.

“

Dad was a professional cray fisherman and he fished regularly on the west coast of Tasmania, which, as we Tasmanians know, is some of the roughest seas in the world.

Whelan was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The community is rallying around him, with Ms. Yates expressing gratitude for the Tasmanian spirit of coming together during difficult times. "I think Tasmanians just really come together around events like this." Police are actively searching for the two offenders and are appealing for public assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward.

“

There was a decision they had to make about whether to put their own lives at risk in order to save that life. And dad made the call and did it.