Lavington man allegedly bashed with meat cleaver protecting neighbour

A Lavington man who protected a woman and her children from a violent assault has been seriously injuried in an alleged cleaver attack.

A man has been seriously injured after he was allegedly bashed with a meat cleaver on Friday.

A hero Lavington man who protected his female neighbour and her children from being attacked by a man has allegedly been savagely beaten with a meat cleaver and rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

About 9pm on December 4, a woman and her two children fled a unit on Schaefer St, after being threatened by a 36-year-old man she knew.

The man allegedly followed the woman and children to the unit next door and continued threatening them, pushing a female neighbour to the ground when she tried to intervene.

The man left the unit and allegedly returned a short time later with a meat cleaver, and began beating the male neighbour wit hit.

A group of neighbours managed to detain the man until police arrived and arrested him.

The male neighbour sustained lacerations to his forearms and head, and was taken to Albury Hospital for treatment, before being flown to a hospital in Melbourne for surgery.

The female neighbour sustained minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment.

The woman and her children were unharmed.

The alleged offender was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, using an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, stalking/intimidation and assault.

The man was refused bail to appear in Albury Local Court on December 8.