Dashcam footage has emerged showing the moment Boris Gurman, 69, tackled shooter Sajid Akram and wrestled a gun from him during the Bondi beach terror attack on Sunday. Boris and his wife Sofia Gurman, 61, were both killed in the attack.
The couple's family confirmed their identities in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald, describing them as “the heart of our family”. The family said: “We are heartbroken by the sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Boris and Sofia Gurman. They had been married for 34 years, with their 35th wedding anniversary approaching in January.”
The footage, posted to Chinese social media platform Rednote, shows Boris pushing Akram onto the road and wrestling a gun from his hands, with Sofia also involved. A Sydney resident who posted the video wrote: “Such civilian heroes shouldn’t be forgotten. I’m truly heartbroken.”
The couple were among 15 victims of the attack, which occurred during a Hanukah celebration. A further 38 people were wounded, with 24 still in hospital as of Tuesday. The attack is the worst mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Boris, a retired mechanic, and Sofia, an Australia Post worker, were praised for their bravery. Their family said: “While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, 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.”
