Hero or Criminal?

Here's a story of an 80 year old American answering the door at his home, only to find two robbers who attempted to beat him up. He fought back, and put one of his attackers in the hospital. He's being hailed as hero by the police and his neighbors. But the same thing happening in Great Britain would probably lead to his being charged with a crime. (can't use deadly force to protect yourself from a home invasion there). So who's right?