A "humble" grandfather of eight collapsed and died after armed robbers held him at gunpoint in his Tooting home yesterday morning.
The pensioner, 73, named locally as Mashboor Hussain, died after two men forced their way into his home in Selkirk Road at approximately 11.45am.
Mr Hussain, who is thought to be a local shopkeeper, was at home with his daughter and wife when the men stormed the house.
It is believed they made off with about £40 cash and a mobile phone.
The robbers threatened him and his family with knives and guns before Mr Hussain collapsed suffering what is understood to be heart attack before escaping.
Police arrived just before midday to find Mr Hussain on the floor and paramedics battled to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at 12.53pm.
It is understood officers have yet to find either of the guns used so Selkirk Road has been cordoned off.
Mr Hussain regularly attended the Al Muzzammil Mosque, in nearby Gatton Road, and he was described by the imam as a "humble and kind man, who was always smiling".
His daughter, Nasreen Parveen, 38, said: "I'm just feeling a bit that no place is a safe place now.
"He wasn't alone, my little sister and my mum was there. The men threatened them all."
Shahida Muneef, of Fishponds Road, said: "He was a very nice man, he has got a family.
"He was a very good man it is very sad."
The Homicide and Major Crime Command is investigating the case but, at present, no descriptions of the suspects have been released and no arrest have been made.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "At this stage, officers believe that two men forced entry to the house before threatening the occupants, one of whom subsequently collapsed.
"Officers, including firearms officers, and London Ambulance Service attended.
"A man - believed to be in his early 70s - was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:53hrs.
A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 11.57am to an incident at an address in Selkirk Road.
"Sadly one patient, a man, was dead at the scene.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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