AN ERSKINE grandfather says he no longer feels safe in his home after he was brutally attacked last weekend and left for dead.
Gary Schulze suffered multiple fractures to his nose and face and a piece of wood is still embedded in his eyebrow, which will require surgery to remove.
Mr Schulze has just stepped into his backyard about 7am on Saturday when a man slammed a piece of plywood into his face.
“I got out of bed, turned the kettle on and stepped outside to see what the day was like – it’s such a normal thing to do,” he said.
“As I came out, someone lunged at me with a piece of wood and smashed it right into my face.
“I dropped to the ground and was out like a light – I was unconscious for about 20 minutes.”
Mr Schulze was home alone at the time and said blood had pooled in his mouth while he was unconscious.
“When I woke up I sprayed blood everywhere, I could have easily choked on it while I was out,” he said.
“The clothes I had on were absolutely drenched in blood.
“He attacked me and left me for dead, the offenders don’t care at all.”
He described his attacker as around 17 years of age, of a stocky build, dark skinned and wearing a hooded jacket.
Mr Schulze said another male about the same age, wearing a black beanie was also in his yard at the time.
“I’m just glad they didn’t get hold of the axe in my shed or I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.
“Or if the roller door into the back of my garage wasn’t locked they would have had a clear entryway into the house – anything could have happened.”
Mr Schulze said he was angry he was not safe in his own backyard.
“If I heard a noise outside now I would just call the police straight away,” he said.
“I’m going to get CCTV because I don’t trust just walking into my yard anymore.
“You can think you’re physically able to deal with someone on your property but that’s not always the case.
“I want to get the message out there for people to be aware.
“There are a lot of retirees around here and even though people are aware there may be someone hanging around, they can become complacent.”
Mr Schulze said he heard about burglaries at a nearby block of units and said people could duck through a laneway without being seen.
“There’s just such easy access but it’s not supposed to be a walkway, it’s supposed to be a private road for the units,” he said.
A Mandurah resident for 24 years, Mr Schulze downsized his home and moved to Erskine five years ago.
“I’m retired and my backyard is where I come to have a cup of tea,” he said.
A police spokesperson said the investigation into the attack was ongoing and anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
