An Australian podiatrist found stabbed to death in his Bahamas home was a generous-hearted "man's man" who pioneered the development of low cost orthotics.
Phillip Vasyli, 59, was found dead on Tuesday in the tiny Caribbean nation's wealthy Old Fort Bay community, on New Providence Island, after being stabbed in the chest.
Authorities in the Bahamas have reportedly detained Mr Vasyli's wife.
Mr Vasyli established three podiatry clinics in Sydney and later founded an orthotic footwear company that sells Vionic with Orthaheel Technology products in the US, the UK and elsewhere.
University of Queensland's Bill Vicenzino described his death as "tragic news".
"He was a man's man ... he was self-made, confident and had good ideas about podiatry, shoes and orthotics," Professor Vicenzino told AAP.
"He was always keen to talk to me about research, and research projects and how to make things better.
"He was keen to wherever possible help out with giving me a product for research, he even gave us money ... and funded some of our research."
Professor Vicenzino, who is listed as a service provider with Vasyli Medical's Think Tank, said Mr Vasyli's innovative work "knocked off a hell of a lot of the cost of an orthotic".
He said Mr Vasyli set up his first practice in western Sydney and had lived in the Bahamas with his wife and two children for at least 15 years.
"It's very sad to believe this has happened," Professor Vicenzino said. "He was a friendly bloke."
"He lived a life that was commensurate with having made money from business, the Bahamas is part of that lifestyle.
"He used to jet around the world quite a bit."
In the Bahamas, police say no one has been charged over the death and police are still investigating.
Mr Vasyli is also said to have run a non-profit organisation with his wife, son and daughter to help improve the health of those living in poor communities.
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