Devastated relatives of a doctor killed during a brutal home invasion have revealed he chased the intruders to protect his housemates before he was fatally stabbed.
Dr Ash Gordon, 33, woke to a gang of thugs breaking into his Sargent St home, in Doncaster in Melbourne’s east, during the early hours of Saturday morning.
He chased them out his house and pursued them in his car to Elidon St, about 500metres away, where both he and the intruders exited their vehicles and a fight erupted.
Speaking to reporters outside Dr Gordon’s home on Monday, his sister Natalie said he was stabbed several times during the altercation – injuries that would ultimately cost him his life.
‘We are really struggling,’ Natalie said, choking back tears.
‘..To lose him so tragically.
‘He was the absolute apple of our family’s eye. Every single one of us were so proud of him and everything that he had achieved in his life.’
‘Mum and dad are just muddling their way through the days at this point in time. His girlfriend is heartbroken.’
Dr Gordon’s father was seen with a stethoscope draped around his neck as the family collected his belongings.
Dr Ash Gordon’s housemate Tristen Standing (left) comforted the dead man’s sister Natalie Gordon (left) as she spoke to reporters on Monday, alongside her sister Tammy Gordon (right) and George Charalambous (centre)
Natalie Gordon (left) becomes emotional as she details her brother’s heroic final act
Housemate and close friend Tristen Standing said Dr Gordon was a ‘brave man’ who ‘didn’t think twice’ about chasing the intruders out of the house.
‘He was just a protector,’ he said.
‘He looked after his people. He didn’t think about himself.’
Frightened neighbours called police after hearing the commotion and Dr Gordon’s body was discovered a short time later. His attackers remain on the run and no arrests have been made.
Dr Gordon’s girlfriend has told police his attackers stole a few items from the house, including laptops and shoes.
The alarming incident comes amid a spate of recent robberies in the area, including the theft of a neighbour’s car just days ago.
Natalie said her brother, the youngest of five children, was the favourite of the family as they grew up on a farm in Hazel Park in Gippslands, 187km east of Melbourne.
Ash Gordon (above) was killed during a home invasion in the early hours of Saturday morning
Tammy Gordon was seen packing her brother’s belongings into a car on Monday
Family said they were working to bring ‘Ash home’ back to Gippsland
Pictured left to right: Hayden Cook (Natalie’s partner), Todd Standing (Ash’s friend and Tristen’s brother), Tristen Standing (Ash’s housemate and friend) and Natalie Gordon (Ash’s sister)
He studied medicine at university before opening his Richmond-based cosmetic clinic Redefine Aesthetics, which specialises in skin health, wellness and anti-ageing.
Natalie described her younger sibling as a very ‘patient and loving’ person who ‘poured his heart and soul’ into his work as a doctor.
‘He was my best, best, little big brother. He was such a cheeky, light-hearted fun person,’ Natalie said.
‘He gave his all to everyone – in his family, and in his job – and put everyone ahead of himself.
‘He just wanted to provide the best doctor care that he could provide, because he felt that you need a best point of call for your first doctor – and he was that.’
Dr Gordon’s family and friends gathered at his two-storey unit on Monday to begin the daunting process of packing his belongings.
The group were seen carrying boxes and bundles of clothes from the house and piling them into the back of a ute.
Dr Gordon’s father was seen with a stethoscope draped around his neck as he worked to pack away his son’s belongings
Rubbing away tears, Natalie said the family were working to ‘bring Ash home’ by taking his things home to Gippsland.
As the family come to terms with the tragedy, they have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact to police.
Natalie had a sterner message for her brother’s killers.
‘Hand yourself in,’ she said.
‘It is an absolute disgrace to mankind to do something to someone so, so wonderful.
‘The world is a worse place now because he has been taken not only from us but the wider community.’
Any witnesses or anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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