Neighbour ruled hero after being attacked with machete
<p><span>A man has been ruled a hero after he leaped to the aid of his neighbour when three armed men stormed her home in Melbourne’s south-east.</span><br /><br /><span>Russell Irwin, a father-of-three jumped his fence when he heard his neighbour let out a piercing scream on Tuesday night outside of her Lindenow Court home in Cranbourne North.</span><br /><br /><span>A group of men stormed the house armed with an axe, machete and gun.</span><br /><br /><span>They would go on to strike the "extremely brave" 41-year-old, and break his skull.</span><br /><br /><span>The neighbour was roasting marshmallows in his backyard with his kids when the commotion started.</span><br /><br /><span>They stabbed him repeatedly before striking his head with an axe.</span><br /><br /><span>"It could've killed him ... left three kids without a dad ... us without an uncle ... it's disgusting," Ms Irwin said.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Irwin’s children and father-in-law were just metres away, and called for help when they realised his attackers had escaped.</span><br /><br /><span>"I honestly think if it wasn't for him she probably wouldn't be around," Mr Irwin's niece Naomi said.</span><br /><br /><span>Detective Senior Constable Alex Fiore spoke on the horrific incident, saying: "An innocent man was just in the backyard with his family and has come to the aid of a neighbour, and unfortunately been attacked himself.</span><br /><br /><span>"The victim is extremely brave.</span><br /><br /><span>"I know the occupants of this address are very grateful for his involvement," he said.</span><br /><br /><span>Detective Senior Constable Fiore said detectives are trying to establish if the victims of the home invasion knew the offenders.</span><br /><br /><span>"Police are investigating whether the home invasion was targeted or an isolated incident," he said.</span><br /><br /><span>"We think there may be a relationship but we're not sure."</span><br /><br /><span>Witnesses told 9News the group were demanding money but fled when it became clear they were not getting any.</span><br /><br /><span>Two out of the three intruders ran towards Lawless Drive, however the third went through a neighbour’s backyard and dropped the machete used on Mr Irwin.</span><br /><br /><span>Good Samaritans chased the young Caucasian man and police say they are investigating whether he escaped in a blue Mitsubishi or a silver SUV.</span><br /><br /><span>Neighbour Jeff Disney revealed that he confronted one of the offenders and claims they told him they were only there for one reason.</span><br /><br /><span>"He assured me he was there to get what he wanted and wasn't there for anyone else," he said.</span></p>
