Police in Victoria have launched an urgent manhunt after three people were left with critical injuries in an alleged axe attack at a property in Tyers, a small town in the Gippsland region. Investigators have publicly named the wanted man as Peter O'Ryan, 48, and have warned everyone who sees him to stay away.

Emergency services were called to a property on Cowies Road shortly after 12.30pm on Saturday after reports that two men and a woman had been assaulted. Officers arrived to find three patients with serious injuries. The two male victims, aged 76 and 47, were airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries and remain in a critical condition. The third victim, a 74-year-old woman, was taken to hospital with critical injuries and is now described as stable.

Police appeal after family named as victims

Victoria Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of O'Ryan, who is believed to have used an axe or a hatchet during the attack. Detectives say the 48-year-old was known to the victims, and the injured people are understood to be his parents and brother. Investigators have not yet confirmed exactly what led to the violence, but they have stated that the attack followed an argument at the property.

The older male victim, aged 76, is receiving hospital treatment for what police have described as life-threatening injuries. The 47-year-old man, believed to be O'Ryan's brother, was also airlifted from the scene in a serious condition. Both men remain in critical care. The 74-year-old woman, believed to be O'Ryan's mother, is in a stable condition after initially being admitted with critical injuries.

Suspect known to frequent Morwell

O'Ryan is described by police as a man of no fixed address. He is known to spend time in the Morwell area and around the wider Latrobe Valley. According to investigators, he often takes refuge in abandoned properties and outhouses, and police are checking those locations as part of the search. Officers believe O'Ryan fled the scene on foot after the attack, and he may still be carrying the axe or hatchet.

The search has focused on the rural area surrounding Tyers, but police have warned that O'Ryan could have moved towards nearby towns or hidden in farmland and bushland. Tyers is a small community surrounded by paddocks, scattered homes, and dense vegetation, which makes it difficult for officers to narrow down his location. Local roads are often quiet, and police believe O'Ryan may have travelled along back roads to avoid being seen.

On Sunday, investigators released images of O'Ryan in the hope that members of the public would recognise him. The photographs show a man with a fair or Caucasian appearance, a medium build, and dark grey hair. In the images, he is wearing a black and mustard-coloured jacket and carrying a black backpack. Police are hoping the distinctive clothing will help witnesses remember whether they have seen him.

Public warned not to approach suspect

Victoria Police have issued a strong warning to the public not to approach O'Ryan. Because he is believed to still be armed, police are concerned that any confrontation could lead to further violence. Members of the public who see him are being told to call triple zero immediately and to provide as much information as possible, including the direction he is travelling and what he is wearing.

Police have also asked residents across the Gippsland area to check their properties, especially sheds, outbuildings, and empty houses. O'Ryan is known to have used abandoned buildings for shelter in the past, and he may be seeking a place to hide while the manhunt continues. Anyone who notices signs of recent occupation, such as disturbed belongings, open doors, or fresh footprints, should not investigate on their own but should report the finding to police.

The incident has shaken the small Tyers community, where serious violence is rare. Residents have been described as distressed by the news that three members of one family were hurt in their own home. The property on Cowies Road has been preserved for forensic examination, and detectives are expected to spend several days piecing together what happened. Police have also been speaking with neighbours and potential witnesses in the area.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the relationship between the accused and the victims. While they have confirmed that the victims are family members, they have not provided further details about the nature of the argument. Family violence support services are often contacted after incidents involving relatives, and police have encouraged anyone in a harmful relationship to seek help before a situation becomes dangerous. The case has again highlighted how quickly arguments inside a household can escalate into serious harm.

The airlift of the two male victims required a significant emergency response. Both men were transported to hospitals in Melbourne, where they are being treated in intensive care. Their conditions have not improved enough to allow police to interview them, and investigators are relying on physical evidence and witness statements to build a picture of the attack. The 74-year-old woman remains in hospital but is said to be in a stable condition, which may allow officers to speak with her soon.

Police have not ruled out further charges as the investigation progresses. At this stage, the focus remains on locating O'Ryan safely and preventing any further harm to the public. Officers are working with other emergency services and are co-ordinating ground searches across the Latrobe Valley region. The search operation is expected to continue into the coming days unless O'Ryan is found or gives himself up.

O'Ryan is described as being of medium build with dark grey hair. He was last seen wearing a black and mustard-coloured jacket and carrying a black backpack. Police believe he left the property on foot and may still be in the general area. Because of his knowledge of Morwell and its surrounding districts, investigators consider it possible that he is moving between different hiding places rather than staying in one location.

Anyone who has information about where O'Ryan is, or who believes they may have seen him since Saturday, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers or call triple zero in an emergency. Police have reminded the public that approaching a person who may be armed with an axe or hatchet is extremely dangerous and should not be attempted under any circumstances.

As the manhunt continues, the families of the victims are being kept informed of developments by police. The older couple and their son remain the focus of medical care, and no further update on their conditions has been released. Authorities are also providing support to relatives who are not directly involved in the incident but who have been affected by the attack.

Local police remain visible in the district, and officers have been stopping vehicles and speaking with residents to gather information. The investigation is being led by detectives, who are examining the scene and reviewing any available evidence. Forensic teams have been searching the property for traces of the weapon and other material that could help establish the sequence of events.

O'Ryan's previous pattern of staying in abandoned buildings has prompted police advice for rural homeowners and business owners. Anyone who owns a vacant property, shed, or outbuilding in the Tyers or Morwell areas is being asked to keep the premises secure and to report any suspicious activity. Searchers are also checking national parks, creek lines, and other natural areas where a person might try to hide from view.

The attack took place just after 12.30pm on Saturday, when many people would have been at home for the weekend. It remains unclear whether other members of the family were in the house at the time or whether any neighbours witnessed the assault. Police are appealing for anyone who was in the Cowies Road area or who saw a man matching O'Ryan's description walking away from the property to come forward.

Investigators are treating the case with the utmost seriousness because of the severity of the injuries and the fact that the alleged offender is still at large. The use of an axe or hatchet is a detail that has increased concern among local residents. Police have not released any further images of O'Ryan beyond the photographs taken before the incident, but they are urging media outlets to share the existing images as widely as possible.

The manhunt is one of several ongoing operations across Victoria involving people who are believed to have committed serious offences and then fled on foot. Police are trained to search for missing suspects in both urban and rural settings, and the unpredictable nature of the terrain in Gippsland is a challenge officers have acknowledged. They are asking the community for patience while they carry out their work.

Anyone who may have given O'Ryan a lift, or who saw a man walking in an unusual manner along a rural road, is particularly asked to contact police. Officers say even small details can prove important in helping them trace his movements. They are also interested in hearing from anyone who saw lights in an abandoned building or who noticed a person entering a property that has been empty for some time.

Police have described O'Ryan as being of no fixed address, but they have stressed that he is known to have strong ties to the Morwell area. This means he may be seeking help from people he knows, or he may be relying on unoccupied buildings he has used in the past. Residents who know O'Ryan are being encouraged to call police if they have any information about his plans or state of mind.

The three victims remain the central concern of the investigation. While police are determined to locate O'Ryan, they are also focused on ensuring that the injured people receive appropriate support. The older victims, who are believed to be in their seventies, may face a long road to recovery after suffering critical injuries in the attack, and their family members have asked for privacy during this difficult time.

Police have not yet said whether alcohol, mental health, or other personal issues may have contributed to the alleged attack. Those details are likely to emerge as investigators piece together statements from witnesses and information about O'Ryan's recent behaviour. For now, detectives are appealing directly to O'Ryan to contact authorities and surrender safely.

Anyone with information about the alleged attack, or about the current whereabouts of Peter O'Ryan, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to call triple zero if they see him. Police have reiterated that no member of the public should approach him, and that all sightings should be reported immediately so that trained officers can respond.

Source: Daily Mail News