KEY POINTS:
A grandfather of eight was beaten unconscious during a "callous" home invasion early yesterday morning.
Eric Williams was lured outside his Tauranga home by someone calling for help.
The 83-year-old put on his dressing gown and slippers and turned on his security lights. After seeing someone moving just beyond the illuminated area and hearing another cry he opened his back door.
It was the last thing he remembered before regaining consciousness at 5.30am, when he plugged his phone back in and dialled 111.
Police estimate the attack took place some time in the previous three hours. They also believe up to three people were involved.
Williams suffered extensive cuts and bruising but no broken bones. He was unable to eat anything but soup after being released from Tauranga Hospital yesterday afternoon.
His son, Mike, arrived at the hospital to find his father with a concussion.
"He was not very lucid," Williams told the Herald on Sunday. "Now he's just bloody well shattered".
Mike Williams said his father was an active man who still went hang-gliding but is unsure what the future will hold.
"I'm not too worried about the physical side. I am more concerned how it will affect him emotionally and mentally."
Mike said his father was trusting and the family was at a loss to understand how someone could pick on a defenceless old man.
He suspected the attack was not random and was carried out by the same people who took most of his father's valuables in a burglary just before Easter.
The police have no leads on the burglary and are not ruling out a connection between the crimes.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner described yesterday's attack as "vicious and callous".
He said the motive was unknown.
Officers had interviewed several potential witnesses in the Gate Pa neighbourhood where Williams lives and their inquiries would continue throughout the weekend.
Williams said he would move back into his house soon and was not too worried about another visit from his attackers.
"Anyone coming back won't get anything," he said.
"I feel angry but more than that I feel sorry for them that they have decided to live this way."
