In the early hours of today, Joel Shaw and his partner, Matilda White, were jolted from their sleep by a terrifying intrusion at their Zuleika Street residence in Surrey Downs. The couple was confronted by a group who allegedly forced their way into the home around 1 a.m., violently kicking in the front door.

Displaying remarkable courage, the 26-year-old Shaw sprang into action against the masked and hooded intruders, who were armed with a knife. Despite their demands, Shaw stood his ground and refused to relinquish his keys and valuables, even as the assailants resorted to hurling furniture and cans at him in a desperate attempt to overpower him.

During the harrowing ordeal, Shaw recounted being struck in the arm with a machete and enduring blows to the head from a tree branch, along with being punched multiple times. “It was pretty brutal,” Shaw shared with 9News. “I was the only one there to defend myself. It was six against one.”

This alarming incident underscores the threat posed by such brazen acts of violence, serving as a reminder of the unpredictability of home invasions and the resilience required to confront such dangers.

“Pretty brutal, when I was the only one there to defend myself. It was six against one,” he told 9News.

“I was fearing for my life a little bit.”

White, who was hiding in another room, said one of the home invaders took out their phone and started recording Shaw being punched in the face. 

She managed to secretly call triple zero before her phone was ripped away from her.

The attack was over in just five minutes, and the group allegedly fled on Shaw’s motorbike with his Xbox and wallet. 

“They said if I contact the police or anything they’ll come back and kill me,” Shaw said. 

But police were nearby and able to intercept the group.

“By the time they got up the road, the police were coming down the road and saw them all trying to get on the bike,” White said. 

The group allegedly dumped the bike and managed to scatter in every direction, but not before police arrested a 26-year-old man from Elizabeth North.

He has been charged with several serious offences.

His alleged accomplices are still on the run as the victims try to recover from the attack.

“They might get a thrill out of it, but it’s just not worth it. Someone might get seriously injured or killed,” Shaw said. 

“It’s horrible, no one should ever go through something like this,” White said. 

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