'It was fight or flight': Three crowbar-wielding home invaders mess with the wrong man as former footy star breaks both hands while defending his terrified daughters and driving the intruders away
- Former NRL star Michael Witt broke both his hands fighting off home intruders
- Robbers broke into his Gold Coast home in daylight and terrorised his family
- Witt returned home with young daughters when he was confronted with thieves
- He forced one man to the ground, chased off another who was holding a knife
A former NRL star has revealed how he broke both hands fighting off home invaders armed with a knife and a crowbar who tried to rob his house in broad daylight.
Michael Witt was confronted by a man and woman holding pillowcases filled with his family's belongings when he returned to his home in Broadbeach Waters, on the Gold Coast, last Monday afternoon.
'I knew what was going on, it was the fight or flight thing, I ran and grabbed the bloke,' the former athlete turned real estate agent told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
His daughters, aged six and nine, had been with him at the time and quickly bolted for the family car, locking themselves inside.
Michael Witt (pictured with wife Angie) had returned to his Broadbeach Waters home, in the Gold Coast, last Monday afternoon when he was confronted by a man and woman holding pillowcases filled with his family's property
Three people forced their way into the Broadbeach Waters home (pictured) with a crowbar on Monday last week
Witt, who played for the Parramatta Eels, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, then used his bare hands to fight off the intruders.
He managed to wrestle one of the robbers to the ground, where the man begged to be allowed to return the stolen items if Witt would let him go.
But when Mr Witt refused, another man appeared from a black SUV that had been parked at the front of the home.
The second man was carrying what appeared to be a knife.
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Mr Witt chased after the second man who retreated to the driver's seat and managed to flee.
Neighbours were filming as Mr Witt chased after the thieves, and can be heard screaming for someone to call the police.
'I was pretty angry someone thought they had a right to let themselves into our home with a crow bar... It is also pretty sad it had to happen in front of the girls,' Witt said.
Mr Witt said he was relieved his wife wife Angie (both pictured) had not been the one doing the school run that day
The thieves had forced their way into the family home using a crow bar. They had stashed jewellery, watches and bags into the pillowcases
The thieves had forced their way into the family home using a crowbar, and crammed jewellery, watches and bags into the pillowcases.
Witt told 9news he was relieved his wife Angie had not been the one doing the school run that day.
'To come home in the middle of the afternoon and have someone in your house is pretty scary,' he said.
After the terrifying ordeal Witt shared his story and photos of the car on social media in an appeal for help.
Former footy star Michael Witt broke both his hands fighting one of the intruders in the family's front yard
'Not one to post like this but hoping someone may know this car or these putrid humans,' he wrote on Twitter.
'On Monday 3:30pm I caught these three cowards in my house in Broadbeach Waters.
'The driver now has a cut under his left eye and very swollen face - please contact me!'
Police are investigating the incident but no arrests have been made.
Mr Witt managed to snap a picture of the man and woman inside the SUV before they fled
