POST FALLS - Ted Guindon believed his time was short.

The 65-year-old Post Falls man was assaulted inside his home on Horsehaven Avenue on Monday night after two masked suspects entered the unlocked residence.

"I thought that it was a dream," he said. "I couldn't believe it was happening. I thought I was going to die in a pool of blood.

"But I'm alive."

Guindon suffered several injuries during the attack and has severe bruising from his head to his legs. He had stitches on his head and was released from Kootenai Medical Center on Tuesday morning.

The suspects - both were wearing dark clothing and ski masks - remained at large on Tuesday.

Guindon believes both suspects were taller than 6 feet and may have been in their late 30s or early 40s.

Guindon said he believes all that was taken was $59 in cash from his wallet.

"Why they didn't take the credit cards, I have no idea," he said.

Guindon said one of the suspects asked where the safe was inside the home, but Guindon said he doesn't have one.

Guindon, who was home alone, said he was sitting at his computer around 9 p.m. when he thought he saw someone out of the corner of his eye in the front room.

"When I looked to see, a man in black clothes and a black ski mask started wailing on me with something," Guindon said. "I couldn't believe this was happening."

Guindon said he made his way to a bedroom to grab a shovel handle so he could defend himself.

"He struggled with me, got it away from me and beat me with it," he said. "It knocked me to the floor."

He said the suspect then tied his hands behind his back with duct tape.

One suspect, Guindon said, told the other to stop beating him at one point.

"The mean one said, 'If I find out you've got a safe, you're in trouble,'" Guindon said.

One of the suspects went downstairs to look for items.

"I could hear him through the floor rummaging through everything," Guindon said.

Guindon said he repeatedly asked the suspect who was upstairs if he could stand up. He said he was previously told to not say anything or he'd be beaten further.

"I asked him three or four times, but he never responded," Guindon said.

Guindon said he struggled to his feet, walked cautiously to the front door, then ran across the street to his parents' house where 911 was called.

Guindon said he's not sure if the suspects had a vehicle.

"I'm guessing they parked out in the alley where they're building new houses," he said.

Deputies and a K-9 from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and searched both the home and surrounding area.

Post Falls police and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue also responded.

Guindon said about $2,000 worth of items, including a welder and saws, were stolen from his parents' shop over Labor Day weekend. Suspects cut a fence during the incident.

Guindon said he has no idea if the cases are related.

"If you're on meth, you'll do anything to get money," he said.

Guindon said he has a theory that may lead to more information in the beating case, but didn't elaborate.

Guindon, who grew up in Post Falls, said it's unfortunate that serious crimes occur in this area.

"Everybody needs to own a gun," he said, adding that he plans to keep one handy.

An investigation continues. Those with information are urged to call the sheriff's department at 446-1300.