Bondi Beach bloodbath: Heartbreaking particulars emerge about heroic first couple gunned down by terrorists – as their identification is revealed after they died hugging one another for eternity

A married couple have been identified as the heroes who died side-by-side while trying to stop one of the Bondi Beach terrorists, days before one of their birthdays. 

Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia, 61, were tragically gunned down when they bravely confronted Sajid Akram, 50, and prevented him from opening fire at a Jewish event on Sunday.

A family friend told the Daily Mail the couple’s son, who lives overseas, had been in the country for the past few weeks visiting his parents. The friend said Ms Gurman was due to celebrate her 62nd birthday on Wednesday.

The couple were also set to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in January.  

Viral footage emerged on Tuesday showing the husband ripping away Sajid’s weapon moments after he and his son Naveed, 24, exited their IS-flagged car on Campbell Parade.

The couple then spent a few minutes battling the older shooter before he was able to grab a second firearm, and they were tragically gunned down on the sidewalk next to the vehicle.

Heartbreaking pictures of the crime scene circulating in the aftermath of the massacre showed Ms Gurman died while laying over her husband.

The father and son then allegedly ran to a nearby a footbridge and began firing ammunition into a crowd celebrating Hanukkah on the beach.

It is understood that the Gurmans are Russian Jews from the Soviet Union, who have lived in Australia for decades. 

‘Boris was a retired mechanic, known for his generosity, quiet strength and willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need. Sofia worked at Australia Post and was deeply loved by her colleagues and community,’ The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said.

‘Together, they lived honest, hardworking lives and treated everyone they met with kindness, warmth and respect… We feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness. This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were – people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others.’

15 innocent people were killed during Australia’s second-worst mass shooting on Sunday, which also left 40 others injured.

Dashcam footage of the Gurmans’ final moments surfaced on Tuesday as Australians praised the couple’s heroic act and called for them to be named and celebrated. 

The clip shows Mr Gurman falling to the road beside Sajid, holding the gun he had just wrestled from him, as his wife stood nearby. 

‘Many people may not know that at the very beginning of the incident, two individuals were among the first to identify the gunman and bravely attempted to disarm him,’ a social media user said.

‘Tragically, they were shot and killed in the process. They were heroes too. They stepped forward in the face of extreme danger.’ A witness has described Mr Gurman as a ‘hero’ after watching the struggle unfold.

‘We saw this man heroically try to disarm this evil terrorist. His family needs to know he (was) trying to save lives. He is a hero,’ they wrote. 

Another witness, a local Chinese resident called Jenny, told Xiaoxiang Morning Post she thought she had first heard ‘fireworks’ before seeing the two men wrestling while she was parking her car.

‘I was stunned at the time. Looking back on this scene afterward, I was deeply shocked, because everyone was running away at the time,’ she said.

Jenny described seeing Sajid exit a car when he was rushed and tackled by the older man, who then snatched the long gun.

She said that a thin, older woman – now identified as Ms Gurman – was behind the hero.

When Jenny allegedly saw a man fire a gun from the bridge, she drove to the beach where she collected her family and rushed home.

‘I’ve lived in Australia for over 20 years, and I can say this is the most horrific attack Australia has ever suffered since its founding,’ she said.

A young man, who had hidden during the attack, said he saw the couple lying amongst the ‘trail of destruction’. 

‘I didn’t know if I was still in danger because police were still shooting,’ he told ABC’s 7.30 on Monday.

‘So I’ve gone over and I’ve checked his pulse… I’ve checked his breathing. And I go to start CPR.

‘This other bloke comes over and he says, “Mate, get out. It’s not safe. He’s gone, he’s gone, he’s gone.” And I see his wife laying on him face down.’

Nine of the 15 people killed in the attack have been identified, including the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda.

Other victims included British-born Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, French national Dan Elkayam, 27, Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, beloved husband and father Tibor Weitzen, Wellington Street synagogue assistant Reuven Morrison, Slovak citizen Marika Pogany, 82, and retired NSW Police detective sergeant Peter Meagher.

Twelve people injured in Sunday night’s attack remain in a critical condition, while a further 26 patients are in various conditions across seven hospitals in Sydney.

Among them is Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the hero who tackled and confronted one of the Bondi Beach terrorists during the attack.

Incredible footage captured the moment the 43-year-old father of two daughters, aged six and seven, grabbed terrorist Sajid Akram from behind and wrestled away the man’s firearm.

The gunman then fell backwards to the ground as Mr Al-Ahmed lifted the rifle, aiming its barrel toward the disarmed shooter but not shooting.

Akram then backed away as Mr Al-Ahmed rested the firearm against a tree before a second bystander rushed the shooter and threw an object at him.

The altercation took place in view of the second alleged gunman, Naveed, who looked on from a nearby footbridge, gun in hand.

Naveed was rushed to hospital under police guard with critical injuries, while his father was shot and killed by police at the scene.

Mr Al-Ahmed, a Syrian-born tobacconist owner, has been widely praised for his heroism, but it came at a significant personal cost.

He was shot in the shoulder and arm while hiding behind a tree after confronting the gunman and remains in care at St George Hospital.

The Prime Minister confirmed that he will meet Mr Al-Ahmed following a hospital visit from NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday night.

‘I spoke to the premier after he visited, he told me he’s a great character, and he asked about whether I’d be visiting him – he’s a hero,’ Albanese told radio station Nova on Tuesday.

The PM also hinted at a reward, adding that the bystander’s heroism ‘needs to be recognised’.