Bondi mass shooting hero’s long road to recovery
Australians are showing their gratitude for the hero shop owner who disarmed one of the Bondi gunmen with donations rising. The Prime Minister and NSW Premier have met Ahmed Al Ahmed and his family.
Source: X
Australians have shown their gratitude to the hero shop owner who disarmed one of the Bondi gunmen by donating more than a million dollars.
Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, faces a months-long recovery after being shot twice during the massacre on Australia’s most famous beach.
An online fundraiser to recognise the small business owner for his bravery had raised more than $1.7 million by Tuesday morning.
Among the donations was $99,999 from billionaire Jewish-American hedge fund manager William Ackman.
Al Ahmed, who likely saved many lives when he ripped a gun out of the hands of one of the attackers, had surgery in hospital on Monday.
Today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Ahmed Al Ahmed saying he was “a true Australian hero” and that he was trying to get a cup of coffee and “found himself at a moment where people were being shot”.
“He decided to take action, and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians. He is a very humble man,” Albanese said.
“Tomorrow he will undergo further surgery. His mother and father are here visiting him from Syria, and I was able to meet them as well.
“They’re very proud parents. He, at a moment where we have seen evil perpetrated, he shines out as an example of the strength of humanity.
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“We are a brave country. Ahmed Al Ahmed represents the best of our country. We will not allow this country to be divided. That is what the terrorists seek. We will unite, we will embrace each other and we’ll get through this.”
Al Ahmed was in pain but accompanied by his family who said they were equal parts worried and proud of his heroism, according to Lubaba Alhmidi Alkahil, who took flowers and food to his hospital room on Monday.
“I think at least he needs six months to recover… it’s badly damaged,” the Australians for Syria Association media director said.
“He has two daughters, little kids,” she said.
“When he threw himself on that bad guy… he was just thinking how to save these people.”
Al Ahmed’s cousin Mustafa Al-Asaad said the bystander-turned-hero was shot in his left shoulder and hand.
Al-Asaad recounted his cousin, an Australian citizen originally from Syria, telling him that “God granted me courage to jump on the gunman”.
“He wasn’t thinking of death when he saw bullets flying in the air,” Al Asaad told BBC Arabic overnight.
NSW Premier Chris Minns visited Al Ahmed in hospital on Monday night, praising his “incredible bravery”.
“There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if not for Ahmed’s selfless courage,” he said in a Facebook post.
NSW Premier Chris Minns visits Ahmed Al Ahmed in hospital. Photo: Chris Minns
Meanwhile, a group of surf lifesavers celebrating at their Christmas parties opened up their doors and first aid kits to help those caught in the crossfire.
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Surf lifesavers at Bondi and North Bondi were in their clubhouses celebrating Christmas when the gunfire erupted outside.
Multiple volunteers ran out under fire to perform CPR and provide first aid, Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said.
“Surf Life Saving is a frontline emergency service and that was never more important than last night,” he said.
“There is not a bandage or a Band-Aid left in any of the surf clubs, all the boards were used as stretchers.”
The North Bondi clubhouse had about 200 people sheltering inside and receiving medical attention while the police operation continued, president Steven Lanarch said.
At least 16 people died and many more were left injured after the gunmen took aim at a crowd gathered for a Hanukkah celebration at the beach just before 7pm on Sunday.
One of the gunmen, Naveed Akram, 24, is in police custody while the other, his 50-year-old father Sajid, was killed.
Multiple videos posted to social media show the two gunmen standing on a footbridge connecting Campbell Parade to the Bondi Pavilion and firing shots into a crowd.
Footage shows Al Ahmed crouching behind a vehicle in the nearby car park, before sneaking up behind a gunman and wrestling the weapon from his grip.
The altercation sent the shooter staggering to the ground, before he got up and walked towards the pedestrian bridge from which the other gunman continued to fire.
Leaders hailed the heroes who ran toward danger to stop the attack or help the injured.
“To the brave first responders, including ordinary citizens who acted yesterday – thank you for what you do,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“People rushing towards danger to show the best of the Australian character.”
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-with AAP
