The Syrian-born hero who confronted a gunman during the deadly Bondi Beach terrorist attack is suffering from injuries ‘far more serious than have been reported’, his lawyer has revealed from his hospital bedside.
A Courageous Act Amidst Chaos
Ahmed Al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two, became a national symbol of bravery after footage showed him tackling terrorist Sajid Akram from behind and wrestling away his rifle during Sunday evening’s attack. The altercation, which occurred in view of a second alleged gunman, Akram’s 24-year-old son Naveed, is credited with saving countless lives.
Speaking for the first time from his bed at St George Hospital to TRT World, Mr Al-Ahmed expressed his gratitude. ‘May Allah reward you and grant well-being,’ he said in Arabic. ‘Through Allah, I went through a very difficult phase, only Allah knows it… God willing, it will be a minor injury.’
The True Extent of His Injuries
However, his former migration lawyer, Sam Issa, who visited on Monday, painted a much graver picture. Mr Al-Ahmed has sustained five gunshot wounds and faces the potential loss of his arm. Doctors had yet to remove a bullet from the back of his shoulder as of Monday night.
‘He's having multiple surgeries… It's a serious injury – far more serious than has been reported,’ Mr Issa told The Australian. ‘At this stage, he says he has no feeling in his arm… I'm no medical doctor but he said to me that it seems like one of the bullets may have hit a nerve.’ Mr Issa described the injury as ‘weird’, questioning how his client was shot in the back of the shoulder while facing the attacker.
Despite the pain, Mr Issa stated: ‘He said he'd do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him. He's not well at all. He's riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment.’
A Nation's Gratitude and a Hero's Motives
The attack, which unfolded at a Hanukkah by the Sea event, left at least 16 people dead, including a ten-year-old girl, and dozens injured. Before confronting the gunman, Mr Al-Ahmed had asked his cousin to tell his family he was going to try to save lives, fearing he would die.
His father, Muhammad Fateh al-Ahmed, emphasised that his son, a Muslim, did not discriminate. ‘When he did what he did, he wasn't thinking about the background of the people he's saving… He doesn't discriminate between one nationality and another,’ he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns have hailed him as a hero who provided hope in darkness. He has even received praise from former US President Donald Trump. A GoFundMe campaign has raised close to $2 million for his recovery, including a $100,000 donation from US billionaire Bill Ackman.
Mr Al-Ahmed, who was granted Australian citizenship in 2022 and runs a tobacconist in Sutherland, remains in hospital. His mother said she ‘couldn't stop crying’ when she learned of his actions, while the nation awaits further news on the condition of the man who ran towards danger.
