Tributes for ‘true gentleman’ Dr Ash Gordon killed in horror Doncaster home invasion
Devastated family members of a “brave” young doctor allegedly stabbed to death after chasing violent intruders from his home says the “world is a worse place now” as they begged for justice.
Police & Courts
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Heartbroken relatives of a “brave” young doctor who was allegedly stabbed to death after chasing violent intruders out of his home have called for the harshest punishments possible to be brought down on his attackers.
GP Ash Gordon, 33, was allegedly stabbed repeatedly after he chased the offenders from his Sargent St home in Doncaster early on Saturday morning.
A confrontation unfolded on nearby Eildon St, where police discovered his body near his car shortly after 5.30am.
Investigators on Sunday night were hunting the violent home invaders who stabbed Dr Gordon and hit him with a car after he chased them from his Doncaster house.
Speaking through tears, Dr Gordon’s sister Natalie Gordon issued a strong warning for those involved in her brother’s violent death.
“Hand yourself in. It’s an absolute disgrace to mankind to do something to someone so, so wonderful and the world is a worse place now because he’s been taken from us. Not only us, but the wider community,” Ms Gordon said.
“His patients he loved so much, he poured his heart and soul into his work and I hope like hell youse (sic) are caught and justice is served to my brother.
“We just need harsh punishments to come in and for these people to be caught.”
Ms Gordon remembered Dr Gordon, the youngest of the family’s five siblings, as the “best big little brother”.
“He was the absolute apple of our family’s eye. Every single one of us was so proud of him and everything he had achieved in his life, so we are really struggling to lose him so tragically,” she said.
“He was such a cheeky, lighthearted, fun person. He gave his all to everyone in his family, in his job.”
Ms Gordon said her younger brother was a dedicated family man and passionate doctor.
“I just want him to be remembered as that cheeky boy that gave everyone his all and put everyone ahead of him and who wanted to provide the best doctor care he could ever provide because he felt that that’s what we needed,” she said.
“He was caring, he was so caring.”
Police were on Monday hunting the alleged attackers and piecing together the horrific details surrounding the botched home invasion, during which the thieves made off with laptops and shoes.
Dr Gordon’s girlfriend and parents are said to have been left shattered by his death.
His girlfriend has since been staying at a different address with Tristen Standing, Dr Gordon’s housemate on Sargent St.
“He’s a protector. He looks after his people. He was just a brave person who looked after anyone under his wing. He doesn’t think about himself,” Mr Standing said.
“He’s a brave man and didn’t think twice about chasing them out of our house.
“He was my best friend.”
The family begged for anyone with information to come forward to the police.
Ms Gordon said: “If anyone has any information it would be great for them to pass it onto the police because we would really like this to be sorted”.
The horrific details of the burglary-turned-murder are still being pieced together.
Dr Gordon’s partner called police as the offenders stole laptops and shoes from the property in Sargent St.
Several neighbours also called the police after hearing a loud “bang” about 5.30am.
Dr Gordon is understood to have then given chase to the armed thieves in his car before they fatally attacked him less than 1km away in Eildon St, where his body was found a short time later.
Tributes for ‘incredible doctor’ and ‘top guy’
The young GP’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief from his patients, who have described him as an “incredible doctor”.
“My elderly mother would come here from out of state just to see him because he was so good to her,” one patient wrote in a tribute.
“This is devastating for his family and community.
“He was one of the more compassionate doctors I’ve seen.”
“It’s very sad. I’ve seen Dr Ash Gordon and he was a very nice man,” another patient said.
A former classmate of Dr Gordon said the pair once played basketball together during their time at University.
“He was always a wonderful bloke, and even though I hadn’t spoken to him in a few years I considered him a friend,” they said.
“I’m struggling to process that he’s now gone — taken from us in such a horrible, ugly way.”
Loved ones of the young doctor told the Herald Sun he was a “dearly loved” friend and dedicated practitioner.
“Ash was one of the nicest, most humble guys you could meet. No matter your differences in life he was always up for a chat and meeting new people,” close friend Jovanne Pieterse said.
“He had this energy that would light up any room, and was dearly loved by so many.”
Mr Pieterse said Dr Gordon stood by him and his partner throughout their pregnancy.
“He was such a great doctor, he helped my partner and I through our pregnancy and answered so many questions we had,” he said.
Another friend of Dr Gordon’s said he was “just such a top guy” who was always friendly and kind.
Trained as a GP, Dr Gordon owned Richmond-based clinic Redefine Aesthetics, which specialises in skin and anti-ageing. He completed his medical degree at Monash University.
Dr Gordon’s company website described him as an experienced professional who “believes in forming strong relationships with his patients that value honesty and transparency in all aspects of the treatment”.
He was remembered as a “well-loved and respected” doctor by the general practice he also worked at in Box Hill.
Dr Gordon began working at Box Hill Superclinic in September 2020.
In a statement posted on their website, they said they “regret to share the shocking news that our beloved colleague has tragically passed away following a home invasion”.
“We cannot imagine what his family and loved ones must be going through as our team share in their grief,” they said.
“Dr Gordon was well loved and respected by everyone and our prayers and thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Former colleagues ‘in disbelief’
A former colleague of Dr Gordon remembered him for his caring and kind-hearted nature.
General practitioner Dr Naomi Harris told the Herald Sun Dr Gordon was “just somebody that was always willing to help people out”.
“Nothing was ever too much trouble,” she said.
“It sounds like a cliche, but he was just a really nice, lovely genuine person.
“He was always willing to answer any questions I had as well ... he was really helpful professionally.
“I don’t think you would find anyone that would have a bad word to say about him.”
Dr Harris met Dr Gordon more than five years ago through their work in sports medicine, and said he was always supportive — covering events for her last year “without hesitation” when she was injured.
“It’s going to be really weird that he’s not going to be on the other end of the phone anymore,” she said.
“Everyone that I’ve spoken to today and yesterday is just in disbelief.”
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victoria chair Dr Anita Munoz said they were “truly saddened” and counselling was available for Dr Gordon’s colleagues.
“We were truly saddened to hear of our colleague and member Dr Ash Gordon’s passing and the tragic circumstances of his death,” she said.
“Ash is remembered by his community as intelligent and compassionate. Our thoughts are with his team, family, friends, and patients.
“We have reached out to his practice and offered his colleagues our support.
“GPs and other doctors can reach out to DRS4DRS and our members have access to free and confidential counselling through the RACGP GP Support Program.”
Dr Gordon’s profile on the Whitehorse Rd clinic’s online booking system described him as a skilled, knowledgeable doctor with a passion for dermatology, skin cancer, cosmetic medicine, musculoskeletal and sports medicine.
“His broad medical skills are complemented by his excellent communication and listening skills which are appreciated by his patients,” his profile said.
According to his profile at Redefine Aesthetics in Richmond, he had also previously worked in the public health system.
On X — formerly Twitter — the medical community also grieved the loss of their colleague for both family, friends and the wider community.
Psychiatrist Dr Jackie Rakov wrote that the death of both Dr Gordon and Dr Michael Yung – who was killed in Adelaide late last year – was a tragedy.
“A tragedy for anyone who loses a loved one, but in these circumstances also those patients who no longer have a doctor, and the doctors themselves who gave up decades in their prime for study and training. Vale,” she posted.
A heartbreaking tribute from a Glen Iris medical clinic remembered Dr Gordon as a brilliant doctor and caring person.
General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) said in a statement their thoughts and condolences were “with the family and friends of GPRA member Dr Ash Gordon during this tragic time”.
Flowers and a note had been left at the Eildon St scene on Sunday, with a friend saying he would never be able to “make sense of this”.
“A true gentleman, intelligent, honest, compassionate, friendly, generous … I don’t think there is one positive characteristic I could leave out,” he wrote in a tribute.
“Gone way too soon, brother. I truly thank you for all that you helped me with. Tragic.”
A neighbour who asked not to be named said the ordeal was “confronting” for everyone who lived in the street because Dr Gordon was killed for his belongings.
“No amount of material is worth a life, so I think that’s the sad part of it,” he said.
“It’s pretty terrifying, to be honest. You don’t really think that’s happening five metres away from your door, so it’s a little bit confronting.
Dr Gordon is believed to have lived in his two-storey unit for four years with housemates.
His violent death comes as Sargent St residents said their street had been targeted by opportunistic thieves in recent weeks.
In November, an elderly couple had their home ransacked and valuables stolen while they were out for several hours.
Thieves stole another woman’s car while it was parked in her garage on Wednesday.
“I’m still quite shocked,” the woman said. “He seemed very nice.”
Residents reported hearing several youths gathering for parties in the street in the days before the fatal home invasion.
“They would come here and make a lot of noise,” the woman said.
Police say the incidents are not linked.
Police have ramped up patrols in the area and investigations into Dr Gordon’s death are ongoing.
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