Updated ,first published
An elderly man police say fought off a home invader who stabbed him and his wife at their Northern Tablelands property has been praised for his bravery as the terrifying ordeal rattles the tiny rural community.
Keith Blessing, 75, and his wife, Di, 72, were allegedly attacked by Joshua Dylan Trethewey about 12.15am on Thursday after the 34-year-old forced entry into their home in Torrington, 65 kilometres south-west of Tenterfield. Di was stabbed in the chest and Keith slashed across the abdomen.
Despite his injuries, Keith grabbed a knife from the kitchen, police claim, and wounded Trethewey, who retreated to the verandah.
Keith, a licensed gun owner, called Triple Zero, loaded a rifle and shot Trethewey in the stomach when he tried to come back inside, police say.
He is not expected to be charged for shooting Trethewey.
“He certainly did his best, obviously under very difficult circumstances, to defend himself and his partner,” NSW Police Superintendent Chris McKinnon said on Thursday.
“It’s quite impressive that he was able to do that, given the extent of the injuries that he had suffered.”
The couple underwent emergency surgery on Thursday morning after being flown to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.
Paramedics and police from Tenterfield and Glen Innes rushed to the home and treated the pair before they were transferred.
Trethewey was taken to Armidale Hospital under police guard in a serious but stable condition. He is not believed to be previously known to the Blessings, police said. It’s not yet known how he arrived at the property.
Trethewey has been charged with two counts of wounding with intent to murder, and is expected to face court once medically cleared.
A bail court appearance slated for Thursday morning did not proceed after a request for a bedside hearing was refused.
Norm, who said he was Keith’s lifelong “best mate”, said the couple lead a “peaceful, calm” life at their rural property, and “wouldn’t hurt a fly”.
“Some mongrel comes in and does this to him … they’re bloody crook, I cannot believe [it],” Norm told 2GB radio.
“They put fruit out the front for people to come and get, so they can look after their neighbours and all of this stuff, bloody hell.”
Di Blessing posts regularly in the local community’s social media group, offering excess fruit from her pear and apple trees to neighbours along with suggestions on how to cook or preserve them.
The 80-hectare property on the eastern edge of the Torrington State Conservation area last sold in August 2016.
A crime scene has been established at the property, and an investigation into the circumstances of the alleged home invasion is under way.
Torrington was home to 77 people in the 2021 census with a median age of 64.
Tenterfield mayor Bronwyn Petrie said community members were shocked and rattled by the incident, and had been ”fearful about safety” for some time.
“People [have] gone from no one locking anything, to, with some instances of rural crime … people are a bit more security conscious,” she said.
“It’s not a city environment where you’ve got a neighbour quite close.”
A community meeting is planned for Friday morning to discuss security concerns and offer counselling to locals.
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Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously helmed the national news live blog for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.
Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.