Harrowing new details emerge of elderly couple's 'fight or flight' plight during brutal life-threatening home invasion in a small country town

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 11:37, 27 June 2026 | Updated: 11:53, 27 June 2026 An elderly couple who survived an allegedly violent home invasion have 'a long way to go' in their recoveries, as a terrifying detail of their ordeal was revealed. Keith and Di Blessing were asleep in their home in Torrington, about 65km south-west of Tenterfield in the NSW Northern Tablelands on June 4 when Joshua Dylan Trethewey, 34, allegedly broke into their home and stabbed the pair. Ms Blessing, 72, suffered a chest wound and collapsed, while her 75-year-old husband was slashed across the abdomen before he fought back and shot Trethewey in self-defence. The pair were airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital in critical conditions, where they both underwent emergency surgery. Trethewey was also seriously injured and finally woke from an induced coma this week. Ms Blessing has since returned home and detailed the 'fight or flight' choice she and her husband were forced to make due to the lack of mobile phone coverage in the town, which has a population of 77. Her daughter Kathy joined the small close-knit Torrington community at a town meeting on Saturday, where she shared an update on her parents. 'They've got a long way to go, but they're a very strong couple and they're getting there,' Kathy told Nine News. Di and Keith Blessing were left fighting for their lives after they were allegedly stabbed in a terrifying home invasion  Kathy Blessing revealed on Saturday that her parents have 'a long way to go' 'They're going to be a lot more security conscious going forward.' Earlier this week, her mother wrote to local federal MP Barnaby Joyce about her terrifying ordeal to lead renewed calls for better phone coverage. 'Many people have marvelled at our attempts to fight back against the intruder,' Ms Blessing wrote. 'When you are faced with a situation like this the mind goes into fight or flight mode. We fought. Long and hard.  'But the reality was we didn’t have a great choice. 'We have a signal booster which amplifies the tiny phone signal available. It only works around the immediate vicinity of the house. 'So if we had chosen 'flight' beyond the house, we would not have been able to phone for help.' The lack of mobile phone reception in Torrington was a hot topic at a community meeting on Saturday Di Blessing this week described the 'fight or flight' decision they were forced to make due to the lack of mobile phone coverage in the town The issue was high on the agenda at Saturday's town meeting,  'Lives are at risk if calls don't come through,' Ms Blessing's daughter said. 'Everyone should have the right to call triple-0 and get the emergency services they need.' State MP Janelle Saffin is now working with Joyce to push for upgraded reception. Police also fronted the community on Saturday to provide an update on their inquiries. 'It remains an active investigation,' New England Inspector James Parsons told the crowd. 'There is a possibility that more charges will be laid along the way.' He added that Trethewey remains in Armidale Hospital under police guard after he woke from an induced coma on Tuesday.  The police investigation into the alleged home invasion 'remains active' 'We have a signal booster which amplifies the tiny phone signal available. It only works around the immediate vicinity of the house,' Di Blessing wrote Trethewey was formally refused bail in a bedside hearing on Thursday and will return to court in August. He has been charged with two counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.