A child is suing Bunnings and others over the “avoidable” death of her father who was allegedly assaulted by security guards in 2016, leaving a “constant void in her heart”.

Anthony James Georgiou, 31, was allegedly punched, kicked, kneed and wrestled to the ground by Abdul Habib Brenzai and George Oyee while at the store.

Mr Brenzai and Mr Oyee were subcontracted ‘loss prevention officers’ at Frankston’s Bunnings Warehouse in Melbourne.

Mr Georgiou was allegedly attempting to leave the store with a gas cylinder and saw blade he had not paid for in September 2016.

In a statement of claim, filed in the Victorian Country Court, the daughter alleges the security officers “failed to exercise reasonable care or ensure the safety of Mr Georgiou by refusing to let him leave the store on the day”.

They have also been accused of engaging in a “prolonged assault” that included an arm being placed around his neck and excessive pressure used, said the girl’s legal representative Slater and Gordon.

Their employer, New Security Solutions Group, is accused of negligence for “failing to properly train or supervise them”.

Bunnings is the fourth defendant. The hardware giant is accused of failing to hire appropriately trained and qualified security, and not providing Mr Brenzai and Mr Oyee and their employer with the company’s Code of Conduct.

Mr Georgiou’s daughter is a minor and has not been named.

The legal claim states she was a financial dependent, who has suffered injury, loss and damage following her father’s death.

“My client, through her litigation guardian, is exercising her legal rights to compensation following father’s death, which we say was avoidable,” said Slater and Gordon Public Liability Lawyer Neha Pratap.

“This is also an important public safety issue given a person was placed in a situation of danger that would have been avoided had the defendants taken reasonable care in the circumstances.” 

Family ‘burdened’ after death

In a statement, Mr Georgiou’s family said those responsible should understand the “profound impact their action or inaction has had”.

“Most affected is Anthony’s daughter, who has lost the joy and security that her father provided; she now lives with a constant void in her heart,” said the statement.

“Bunnings and every other organisation must prioritise the safety and well-being of its customers and employees so that no other family has to suffer through a similar loss as we have.”

The family hoped Mr Georgiou’s death would be a “powerful reminder” to all about the “importance of empathy and responsibility”.

Bunnings’ director of store operations Ben Camire told News Corp the company would be defending the legal proceedings.

“We continue to extend our sympathy to the Georgiou family,” he said.

“As we’ve maintained through the extensive process to date, there’s nothing more important to us than the safety of our team and our customers.”