Bondi hero is handed $2.5million cheque in his hospital mattress – as hero asks unbelievable query
Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the hero who disarmed a gunman during the Bondi Beach terror attacks, has been handed a $2.5million cheque in hospital.
Heartwarming footage captured the moment the Syrian-born father-of-two learned the news 43,000 people across the world had given money to honour his bravery.
‘I deserve it?’ was the answer Mr Al-Ahmed, 42, gave when a man handed him the cheque in the video posted to social media.
‘Every penny,’ he answered.
Asked what he would say to the tens of thousands of people who donated, Mr Al-Ahmed’s message was one of peace and unity.
‘To stand with each other, all human beings and forget everything bad, behind the back, and keep going to save life. Save lives,’ he said from his hospital bed.
‘When I do save the people, I do it from the heart.’
Viewers of the video were touched by Mr Al-Ahmed’s modesty.
Pictured is the moment Mr Al-Ahmed was handed a $2.5million cheque in hospital
The father-of-two is pictured aiming a firearm at the elder gunman following an altercation
‘F***… what a man. What a hero. That guy deserves a statue,’ one person said on X.
‘He deserves every cent, but the heirs of the two Jewish people who tried to stop them and were gunned down also deserve something,’ another added.
‘I deserve. F***ing dead right buddy, every penny,’ a third said.
Fifteen innocent people were killed in Sunday night’s mass shooting including a ten-year-old girl, with dozens more left seriously injured.
The terrifying incident unfolded as hundreds gathered to attend the Hanukkah by the Sea event, marking the first day of the Jewish celebration.
From his hospital bed, Mr Ahmed recalled the scene at Bondi Beach moments before the alleged gunmen Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire.
‘It was a nice day, everyone enjoying, celebrating with their kids, woman, man, teenager,’ he said.
‘Everyone was happy… they deserve to enjoy and it’s their right.
Mr Al-Ahmed’s GoFundMe campaign has so far raised more than $2.5million
NSW Premier Chris Minns is pictured at Mr Al-Ahmed’s bedside earlier this week
‘This country (is the) best country in the world… We’re not going to stand and keep watching, enough is enough.
‘God protect Australia. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.’
The Sutherland tobacconist was hailed a national hero after footage surfaced of him rushing the elder gunman and wrestling away his firearm.
The intervention came at a significant personal cost, with Mr Al-Ahmed suffering multiple bullet wounds to the shoulder and arm.
The groundswell fundraising campaign for Mr Al-Ahmed garnered international attention, including a maximum $99,999 from US billionaire Bill Ackman.
Mr Al-Ahmed’s fundraiser, launched by CarHub Australia, is one of several established in the days since the terror attack.
Total donations to verified GoFundMe campaigns now sit at about $5million, including nearly $800,000 for the family of the youngest victim, ten-year-old Matilda.
More than $650,000 has been raised for Sofia, 61, and Boris Gurman, 69, who have similarly been hailed heroes after they were killed attempting to put a swift end to the attack.
Donations to the family of slain Rabbi Eli Schlanger have surpassed $360,000 and a further $72,000 for Boris Tetleroyd, who was shot alongside his son at the event.
More to come.
