Nearly $1 million has been raised for the hero who was wounded while disarming the alleged gunman during the Bondi Beach massacre, after he told his cousin, ‘I’m going to die… tell my family I saved people’s lives.
Incredible footage captured the moment Ahmed el Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two, sprang on the shooter after he opened fire on Sunday night.
The Syrian-born fruit shop owner’s heroism has earned praise from Australia and beyond and came at a significant personal cost, landing him in hospital with two gunshot wounds to his shoulder.
The stakes were not lost on Mr Ahmed, who, seconds before approaching the alleged gunman, told his cousin Jozay Alkanj he was going to die.
‘He said ‘I’m going to die, please see my family and tell them that I went down to save people’s lives’,’ Mr Alkanj recounted outside hospital on Monday morning, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Things might have turned out differently had the pair decided to join the revellers at the Hanukkah event, who offered them food as they passed by before the shooting began.
‘We needed a coffee,’ Mr Alkanj said. ‘It was then just ten minutes before this happened like that. It was very crazy, we went behind the cars, we were seeing that people were shooting very near to us.’
Moments later, Mr Ahmed was filmed creeping through the car park along Campbell Parade, hiding behind parked cars for cover as he made his way towards the alleged shooter.
Pictured is father-of-two Ahmed el Ahmed, who put his life on the line to wrestle a firearm from one of the two alleged shooters at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening
Heart-stopping footage captured the moment Mr Ahmed (pictured in a white shirt) wrested a gun from the alleged shooter before turning it against him, all in view of the second alleged shooter
Jozay Alkanj (pictured) is the cousin of Mr Ahmed, who has been hailed a hero
Once within close enough range, he sprinted towards the alleged gunman, finally wrestling the firearm from his clutches following a prolonged tussle.
The alleged gunman, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, then fell backward towards the ground as Mr Ahmed lifted the rifle, aiming its barrel towards the disarmed shooter.
Akram then backed away as Mr 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, Akram’s 24-year-old son, 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.
The unbelievable footage has circulated widely online, prompting a GoFundMe campaign to be launched to raise funds for the hero, who remains under observation in hospital.
The campaign has so far raised close to a $1million across more than 5,000 donations – including $100,000 from US billionaire Bill Ackman.
At least 16 people were killed in Sunday night’s mass shooting, including a ten-year-old girl, with dozens more left seriously injured.
Naveed Akram was rushed to hospital under police guard in critical condition after the attack
A GoFundMe campaign has so far raised more than $550,000 in support of Mr Ahmed
The terrifying shooting unfolded as hundreds gathered to attend the Jewish Chanukah by the Sea event, marking the first day of Hanukkah.
As the dust settles on what has been described as the country’s darkest day since the 1993 Port Arthur massacre, mourners have found hope in the Syrian-born man’s bravery.
The Muslim man arrived in Sydney more than a decade ago from Syria. He is the father of two daughters aged five and six.
Mr Ahmed’s mother has said she couldn’t stop crying when she found out her son was the hero who had saved countless lives at Bondi Beach.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns said the heroism provided some hope in a time of darkness.
‘We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,’ Albanese told reporters.
Minns said Mr Ahmed was a ‘genuine hero’ at a press conference late on Sunday, adding there was ‘no doubt’ he saved many lives.
‘I think it’s worth remembering that in all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger,’ he said.
Mr Ahmed’s GoFundMe page can be found here.