Miss Universe Australia Finalist and Her Dad Fight Off Attempted Carjackers: 'Still in a Little Bit of Shock' By Escher Walcott

A former Miss Universe Australia finalist and her father courageously fought off thieves during an attempted carjacking in Melbourne.

Elizabeth Kalash, 28, jumped in to defend her 60-year-old father Amir after being attacked by the three carjackers as they attempted to steal her car in Coburg on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 9News Australia reported.

“I saw my father get pushed, shoved, assaulted, thrown to the ground, and obviously tried to defend him,” Elizabeth told the outlet, who shared footage of the incident. “They tried to attack me and then after that they fled off and then came back to collect items they’d dropped.”

One of the suspects was spotted sitting inside a grey Hyundai by a male victim at a residential address on May Street at around 12:20 p.m. local time, according to a press release from Victoria Police, A 60-year-old man confronted the suspect before being attacked,

“The victim’s daughter heard the commotion and came to assist when a stolen silver Lexus registration ‘SAMWAN’ pulled up and another man and woman exited the vehicle,” police said. “The male offender assaulted the male victim, causing him to fall backwards onto the ground.”

The three suspects drove over the male victim’s foot and fled the scene in the Lexus, police added.

“It was definitely a fight reaction and the adrenaline definitely kicked in for me,” Elizabeth recalled of the incident. “I don’t think they actually expected anyone to come out and react in that sense, so it definitely was a shock for them as much as it was for me and my father.”

“As I saw my father hit the ground … your heart genuinely breaks,” she told 9News. “I could not visually see what happened to my father and I didn’t know … what was going to happen to him with him being on the ground.”

Elizabeth’s father was hospitalized with a serious foot injury and has since been released. “We’re both doing ok … Dad is recovering … we’re just still a little bit in shock after the whole incident,” she told 9News.

Police have released images of the suspects, believed to be two men and a woman aged between 35 and 40. 

One male is described as Middle Eastern, around 5 feet, 9 inches tall, wearing a black hat and hoodie, dark sunglasses and blue work pants. The second male is described as aboriginal, around 5 feet, 7 inches tall, wearing a black hat, a brown ACDC t-shirt and dark-colored pants.

The woman is also described as aboriginal, around 5 foot tall, wearing a black beanie, white T-shirt, and maroon hoodie. The suspects were last seen heading east towards Gaffney Street, police said.

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Elizabeth, who was a 2024 finalist in Miss Universe Australia, said she now feels unsafe in her home following the attack, telling 9 News Australia, “You do feel like you need to be a bit more cautious … when it comes to even being in your home, which is your safe place.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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PEOPLE has reached out to Kalash for comment. Victoria Police told PEOPLE the investigation is ongoing.