A man who risked his life to help disarm an alleged gunman during the deadly Bondi Beach attack has been granted permanent residency in Australia.
A Selfless Act of Bravery
Israeli national Gefen Bitton, 30, was celebrating Hanukkah with friends on December 12 when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, allegedly opened fire on the crowd. The attack resulted in the deaths of 15 people and left dozens more wounded.
As fellow bystander Ahmed Al-Ahmed bravely confronted and disarmed Sajid, footage captured Mr Bitton sprinting from a car park to assist. He helped confront Sajid but was then allegedly shot three times in the lower abdomen by Naveed Akram. The bullets shattered his pelvic bone and caused severe internal injuries and bleeding.
A Long Road to Recovery
Mr Bitton was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition, where he spent over a fortnight in a coma. He remains in intensive care and has undergone at least eight surgeries. A fundraiser for his recovery has raised more than $721,000.
"We're seeing small improvements daily, as he is now more awake. Every step counts," a recent update on the fundraiser stated. The garage door technician had been living in Australia on a temporary visa for three years prior to the attack.
Permanent Residency and Ongoing Support
On Wednesday, Sydney Jewish representatives confirmed to the Daily Mail that Mr Bitton has been granted permanent residency. This crucial status means he now has access to Medicare and NDIS support as his extensive and ongoing medical treatment continues.
His father flew to Australia and later identified his son as the man in a red shirt seen running to help in social media footage. Friends have described Mr Bitton as a "soft soul" and "the most spiritual guy ever".
"He knew exactly what he was doing, he was just set on a mission to help others," colleague Matthew Volpatti told Nine News. "He's just a young man come from overseas to have a better life in Australia, and he's going to need everyone's support."
