New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visited Ahmed al Ahmed in hospital on Monday, the 43-year-old man who risked his life to disarm one of the attackers during the mass shooting at Bondi Beach that left at least 16 dead on Sunday night.
Ahmed, a father of two daughters aged five and six, is recovering at St. George Hospital in Kogarah after surgery for multiple gunshot wounds to his left arm. He was injured while struggling with one of the gunmen during the attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.
Minns shared a photograph with Ahmed in his hospital bed, describing him as “a real-life hero.” “There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost were it not for Ahmed’s selfless courage,” the prime minister declared after his visit to the hospital.
Despite the intense pain, Ahmed declared through his lawyer Sam Issa that he has no regrets and would do it again. “He doesn’t regret what he did. He said he would do it again. But the pain has begun to affect him,” Issa told local media after visiting him on Monday.
However, his condition is serious. “He’s not doing well at all. He’s riddled with bullets. Our hero is fighting,” added Issa, who fears Ahmed may lose his left arm. He suffered approximately five gunshot wounds to his left arm, in addition to a bullet lodged in his shoulder blade that has not yet been removed. He has lost a considerable amount of blood.
Images captured by witnesses show the moment Ahmed hid behind parked vehicles in the Campbell Parade area before ambushing the gunman from behind, grabbing his rifle and knocking him to the ground after a prolonged struggle.
According to his cousin Jozay Alkanj, moments before acting, Ahmed told him: “I am going to die, please go to my family and tell them that I died saving people's lives.”
The cousins had passed near the Hanukkah event where they were offered food. “We needed a coffee,” Alkanj explained. “It was then, just 10 minutes before this happened.”
The attack occurred during the “Chanukah by the Sea” event at Bondi Beach, when two gunmen opened fire on hundreds of attendees. The alleged attackers have been identified as Sajid Akram, 50, who was killed by police, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, who was taken to the hospital in critical condition under police custody. Both are believed to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
“Express their gratitude for Australian citizenship”
Ahmed is a tobacco trader of Syrian origin who arrived in Australia in 2006.
His father, Fateh, along with his mother, Malaka, visited their son on Monday and said he was in “good spirits.” “He said he thanks God that he was able to do this, to help innocent people and save people from these monsters, these murderers,” the father said.
According to Issa, Ahmed, who obtained Australian citizenship in 2022, feels “indebted” to the Australian community. “Ahmed is a humble man, not interested in media coverage. This is his way of expressing his gratitude for being in Australia, for having received citizenship.”
Another cousin of Ahmed, identified as Mostafa, said his cousin is “absolutely a hero” who “would have given his life to save other people.” Ahmed told him that God gave him “a power He never gave me before.”
More than $600,000 raised
In Australia, the response in support of Ahmed has been massive. A GoFundMe campaign created to help him has raised over 1 million Australian dollars (665,100 US dollars) in just a few hours through more than 18,000 donations. American billionaire Bill Ackman was the largest individual donor, contributing 99,999 Australian dollars and sharing the campaign on his social media account.
US President Donald Trump also acknowledged his bravery. “There was a very, very brave person who took on one of the shooters head-on. He saved many lives. I have great respect for the man who did that.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as “an act of pure evil.” “We have seen Australians run into danger to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,” he said.
Minns highlighted the “extraordinary acts of personal courage” and noted that “there are still wonderful and brave Australians who are willing to risk their lives to help a complete stranger.”
Among the 15 fatalities were a 10-year-old girl, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, the event organizer, and Alex Kleytman, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. Dozens were injured, including two police officers in critical condition.
