Ashley sold a Nissan Pulsar on Facebook Marketplace. Days later, his life changed forever when its new owners allegedly demanded a refund
Ashley Sabry, 52, suffered a catastrophic spinal injury in the alleged assault at his and his wife Mary's home in Stapylton, in the Gold Coast's north, on Saturday afternoon.
Three men turned up at his door to demand a refund for a 2013 Nissan Pulsar Mr Sabry had sold days prior, police allege.
A row allegedly blew up over the deal and Mr Sabry was allegedly pushed or thrown from a first-storey balcony before he was struck with a piece of broken balustrade
'Everything changed when Ash [allegedly] suffered an unprovoked, near deadly assault at his residence causing him to become a paraplegic,' Tina Ibraheem, a friend of the couple, wrote on GoFundMe.
'Ash was required to undergo immediate emergency spinal surgery and now suffers from a catastrophic spinal injury, facing a future no one could have imagined.
'The road ahead will be relentless, with a long hospital stay, surgeries, rehabilitation, pain, and the fight to adapt to a new life, forever changed.'
The trio, who had been identified but not yet arrested as of Monday, are alleged to have driven away from the scene following the incident.
It is understood the car was sold for less than $3,000.
Mr Sabry is now unable to unable to work but friends hope donations to Ms Ibraheem's GoFundMe campaign will help supplement his wife's income.
'Ash and Mary humbly tried to decline any financial help, but the reality is that while Ash faces a long and difficult recovery, he also carries the heavy burden of losing his only source of income as a self-employed worker,' she wrote.
'This fundraiser will give Mary the ability to stand by his side while balancing her job, ensuring they can focus on his recovery without the constant weight of financial strain.
'They need our help and support now more than ever, as the road ahead will be long, costly, and emotionally heavy.'
Donations will be put towards Mr Sabry's hospital stay, years of rehabilitation and relocation to a wheelchair-accessible home among other expenses.
On Friday, Queensland Police revealed they had arrested a 40-year-old man in connection with the incident.
'Gold Coast police have charged a man following an incident where a man was thrown from a building at Stapylton on August 9,' said a police spokesman.
'It will be alleged that around 1pm, three people attended a 52-year-old man's address, where they proceeded to throw the man from a first-floor veranda onto the ground below.
'It will be further alleged the man was assaulted while on the ground, before the group fled in a Volkswagen van.'
They added: 'Following further investigations, officers yesterday arrested a 40-year-old Lockrose man.
'He has been charged with one count each of grievous bodily harm and assaults occasioning bodily harm whilst armed/in company.
'He is due to reappear at Beenleigh Magistrates Court on 17 September.'
There has been a disturbing rise in online sale blowing up into violent disputes, with experts warning of the risks of engaging with buyers and sellers you don't know.
Two years ago, three members of a Brisbane family were stabbed and their pet dog killed after they rejected counterfeit money in the sale of an electric scooter.
The potential buyers later returned to the family's Forest Lake home after they were rejected and allegedly violently attacked the family.
University of Queensland crime expert Dr Renee Zahnow said while violence was uncommon, conflict is not unexpected.
'You're doing this at your own risk and you're taking this on yourself,' she told the broadcaster.
Facebook Marketplace has guidelines in place to protect users, including recommendations to only meet in public, well-lit areas and to communicate only through the platform.
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