Burglars bound Grant Whelan's hands and feet together before torching his home.

08:41, Mon, Jul 13, 2026 Updated: 08:54, Mon, Jul 13, 2026

Grant Whelan

Burglars demanded Grant Whelan, 76, unlock a safe containing guns, police say (Image: GoFundMe/Family handout)

A pensioner was allegedly hogtied, dragged outside and forced to watch his home burn down by two masked men armed with a crowbar. Police allege that the pair assaulted Grant Whelan, 76, and demanded he unlock a safe containing guns.

Mr Whelan is recovering in hospital after the burglary and attack at his property at Coles Bay near Hobart, Tasmania, in the early hours of Saturday (July 11). His son-in-law, Reid Hooker, told ABC: "Nobody in the world deserves that sort of treatment. It's just disgraceful."

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Mr Hooker told the broadcaster that an off-duty firefighter saw a red glow near Mr Whelan's home while driving past.

Coles Bay Fire Brigade initially believed they were on their way to a grass fire, but when they arrived at the property, they found it alight and Mr Whelan bound and gagged outside.

The culprits took guns and cash before fleeing in Mr Whelan's Toyota HiLux, which police found submerged in a river.

Mr Hooker said his father-in-law has "some horrific bruising and lacerations to his arms" from where he was trying to protect himself, News.com.au reports.

He added Mr Whelan's condition deteriorated on Sunday as a result of fluid on his lungs, placing stress on his heart.

A view of the burnt out building

Mr Whelan's home was destroyed in the fire (Image: Tasmania Police)

A retired farmer, Mr Whelan, was president of a local gun and rifle club who owned a number of shotguns, which he is reported to have kept locked inside the safe.

A GoFundMe page has been set up in the wake of the fire. Mr Whelan's daughter, Chantel Yates, wrote: "Dad is old school and never held insurance, so there is nothing coming to help him start again.

She said her father spent his life helping other people, but now has to recover from the attack and rebuild from nothing.

Ms Yates added: "[F]or once he’s the one who needs a hand. Funds raised will go directly to Dad and will cover his immediate needs first (clothing, essentials, medical and recovery costs, and somewhere to live) and then go toward rebuilding his home."

Mr Whelan's daughter said everything in the house was destroyed in the fire, including a Bravery Medal, given in Australia to recognise people who put themselves in harm's way to protect others' lives or property.