A father is being hailed a hero after putting his life on the line to save his wife.

The couple were ambushed outside their home in Maidstone in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The attacker attempted to steal the woman’s handbag, stabbing her in the struggle. Her husband was then stabbed five times after attempting to fight the attacker off.

3AW police reporter Pat Mitchell said it appears that the attacker was waiting for the couple to return home.

Click play to hear Pat Mitchell’s report