Harrington Park dad Johan Schwartz’s triple-0 plea after intruder Bradley Soper fell unconscious
Terrified businessman Johann Schwartz rang triple-0 in a panic after restraining a musclebound intruder in a chokehold and begging “come quickly, he’s unconscious”. A source close to the investigation said Mr Schwartz, a keen gym-goer himself, was devastated by the incident.
Terrified businessman Johann Schwartz rang triple-0 in a panic after restraining a musclebound intruder in a chokehold and begging “come quickly, he’s unconscious”.
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal senior police sources do not think it likely Mr Schwartz will be charged over the incident.
Police think Soper, a 35-year-old “Strongman” champion who friends said used cocaine and steroids, broke into Mr Schwartz’s southwest Sydney home on Sunday morning, while the 44-year-old’s wife and young daughter were also home.
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Soper lost consciousness during the altercation and could not be revived despite neighbours and paramedics performing CPR for seven minutes.
Soper had been hospitalised with kidney failure two weeks before his death but kept his condition from his parents.
“His body had broken down … he normally tells us when this happens but this time he hadn’t. I don’t know why,” his father told The Telegraph.
“We’re devastated, his mum can’t stop crying.”
Senior police sources said it was unlikely Mr Schwartz would be charged over the altercation, but they were still waiting for an autopsy, which was due to be carried out on Wednesday.
Friends said Soper had recently moved into a new home in Harrington Park, the same suburb where he is believed to have wandered through Mr Schwartz’s open garage door on Sunday.
A source close to the investigation into Soper’s death said Mr Schwartz, a keen gym-goer himself, was devastated by the incident.
“He told the dispatch operator ‘come quickly … he’s unconscious, call me back now, quickly’ … he was in shock over what happened,” they said. It is understood Soper was crouching behind the sofa after barking dogs in the home alerted Mr Schwartz.
Business analyst Mr Schwartz reportedly wrote on the social media site Reddit about having no sympathy for thieves, two weeks before the alleged incident with Soper.
“If he is committed to crime, he will next time bring a gun and target someone more vulnerable like an 80-year-old,” the Reddit comment said.
“No sympathy. The person on the receiving end of his crime could also be poor, and worked hard at an honest job”
South African born Mr Schwartz became known by trainers at his inner-city Fitness First as “the world’s strongest IT nerd”.
“He’s a real geek but super strong, can lift huge weights was always at the gym,” one friend said.
Mr Schwartz left Johannesburg for Sydney 10 years ago for a job as a finance analyst at Commonwealth Bank before rising through the ranks to become a senior business analyst at ANZ, NAB, and Westpac.
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