Wallabies World Cup winner Toutai Kefu had surgery for severe abdominal wounds on Monday after being stabbed in his Brisbane home while trying to defend his family during a break in.
Kefu, the current coach of Tonga and member of the 1999 Cup winning Wallabies, was at home when three people broke into his family home in Coorparoo at 3am on Monday morning in what police believe was a failed robbery gone wrong involving minors.
According to a report on Channel 7 early Monday, Kefu was “fighting for life” but a police spokesman later updated his condition.
“His initial condition was described as critical, but expected to survive,” Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming was quoted as saying by the ABC.
“The mother has suffered very, very serious lacerations to her arm and I’m told her wound are very significant.”
Two of the Kefus’ children were also injured – his son sustained significant wounds to his arm and back and one of his daughters has cuts to her hand and arm.
“I can only imagine this will have a lasting effect on this family due to the trauma of what’s happened,” Fleming said
Fleming said it was understood a family member woke to noise about 3:15am and went to investigate.
Describing it as “brutal and violent,” Fleming said the attack was allegedly carried out with an axe, knife and machete.
“It is highly likely a burglary that has gone wrong,” Fleming said.
“It is very uncommon to have violence to this extreme, with injuries to this extreme, but we do know some young people are carrying knives and weapons and sadly today is an example of the worst of that type of offending.”
Neighbours came to the Kefus’ aid and detained one of the alleged perpertrators. Another suspect presented at Princess Alexandra Hospital with cuts and has since been arrested and is under police guard at the hospital.
The ABC reported both males in custody are juveniles, with one believed to be 15-16 years old, and are on bail with curfew conditions for previous offences of property crime and allegations of violence.
Kefu, 47, played 60 times for the Wallabies and 103 times for Queensland and scored the match-winning try in Australia’s 2001 Bledisloe Cup win.
The rugby community rallied behind Kefu on social media.
GregM
Roar Rookie
https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/boy-13-charged-over-alleged-home-invasion-that-left-wallaby-legend-fighting-for-life/news-story/5763e84ffd797e225f844f51939e80b4 alleged home invasion - so does that mean it didn't really happen?
GregM
Roar Rookie
hope to god this is not true & the medical staff can work their magic https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-union/wife-of-wallabies-great-toutai-kefu-faced-losing-arm-in-alleged-brisbane-home-invasion-attack--c-3706181
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
back in my day we just used a slim jim & a screwdriver to nick a car - damn, car security must now be so much more difficult if you need a machete & axe to steal a car.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
so they’ve brought their love of using machetes to our shores? so now we’ll hear the excuses of their poor upbringing in Africa, how they are not aware of the laws in this country, how they are picked on at school blah blah. Doesn’t the Govt have a law of returning criminals to their home country now? Sure they’ll love the jails in Sudan – at least they will be safe from reprisals from any Tongan inmates. no doubt the race card will be played by the defence & the State Govt being weak as pss will accept it as a mitigating factor in the continued offenses.
ClassAct
Guest
The thieves are Sudanese Gang Bangers. Former Wallaby Captain Stephen Moore also had his home invaded by Sudanese hoods. Thought and prayers with the Kefu’s at this time
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
saw how some 17 year old female stole a car, hit a pedestrian, pranged the car & given a youth supervised penalty (whatever that is). Many youth of today have no respect for others and their possessions, they know right from wrong because they know that they can get away with stuff like this repeatedly. Bout time the Govt lowered the age of being an "adult" & give these kids the bill forthe damage. Can't pay it? well you will as soon as you get a job as it will be taken out of your wages by the ATO. On the dole? you'll be getting less dole for the same reason - until the total has been paid in full.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I am just highlight what he actually said. This is in response to a question and is a standard police response. This will have zero impact on legal proceedings.
TRhing-me
Roar Rookie
These thugs are just scunge. Time to make parents accountable as well. Thoughts and prayers are with the Kefu family.
pm
Roar Rookie
If he wants to portray your average burglar as someone who carries and will use machetes and axes on a wife and kids, okay. It’s actually likely to encourage vigilanti-ism rather than abate its impulse, assuming that’s what he wanted to do, rather than just idly speculating. Someone in his position should not make that kind of public conjecture, that’s likely to prejudice discussion and even the legal process. Very unprofessional of him
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
as this attack has happened to a much loved public figure (& his family), hopefully the outpuring of global grief and anger will be what is needed to make the state (& Federal) Govt clamp down on juvenile, and especiay repeat juvenile offenders. Make these pr!cks an examply of and that society will no longer tollerate this
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
& after you shoot them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs_OacEq2Sk
Olly
Roar Rookie
“There is no information to suggest this was a targeted attack. It’s highly likely it is a burglary gone wrong, which understates it.” is what he actually said.
Harry Jones
Expert
Best wishes to this family. A terrible, terrible thing.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
whether we like it or not, in this day and age there are still people who will only ever respond to violence. And these pr1cks are like that. Jail with the beatings and threats of beatings is what they need - just like standing up to a bully
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
One of the greatest players I’ve ever seen. Absolutely fearless.
GregM
Roar Rookie
an old bloke at the Anita Coby trial held up a sign "I refuse to pay taxes to keep these mongrls in gaol, hang them, but flog them first"
loosehead
Guest
"Your honor, my client suffers from depression, anxiety, sexual identity issues and he really, really, super duper promises never to criminal stuff again.
Internal Fixation
Roar Rookie
I want to wish Toutai and his family a speedy recovery. He inspired me to keep playing rugby in an AFL state. Get well soon legend.
GregM
Roar Rookie
yeah because supposedly they don’t know right from wrong until they are 18. So – they steal a car @ 15 & get caught, authorities say – that’s wrong – don’t do it again. And when they do do it again – treat them as an aduld as they know it is wrong after their 1st offense.
GregM
Roar Rookie
quote from Uncle Chop Chop - You see a 16 Year old wearing gold chains and carrying a hand gun, you don’t let him get to 17