An 80-year-old man who was tied up by burglars and bashed in his home is fighting for life in hospital.

The man and his 75-year-old wife were woken this morning when two burglars broke in to their home at Delburn, in Victoria’s east, and began searching their bedroom with torches sometime between 2:00am and 6:00am.

The couple was then tied up and bashed by the burglars who were wearing balaclavas.

The thieves stole cash and jewellery before fleeing in a car.

The woman managed to free herself and called the police from a neighbour’s house.

She suffered minor injuries while her husband was flown to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information about the attack is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.