A large mirror fell off a wall and on to a householder as he wrestled with three armed burglars at his home in Brighton.
The mirror shattered, gashing the man's hand, and he was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital for surgery.
The victim and his wife, both in their 30s, were watching EastEnders when the raiders called at the front door of their home in Eastern Road, Kemp Town, at 3.40pm on Sunday.
The trio burst in and demanded money, threatening the couple with a metal bar, but fled empty-handed when the man was hit by the falling mirror.
All three intruders were in their 20s and 6ft. Two were white and the other was of mixed race with a pale complexion. One wore a sky-blue top.
Anyone with information should call Detective Constable Tracey Dixon of Brighton and Hove CID on 0845 6070999.
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