Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, a fruit shop owner from Sutherland, had never handled a firearm before the day he stepped into the line of fire at Bondi Beach. Yet in a moment now being hailed as extraordinary bravery, he acted without hesitation. During the confrontation, Ahmed was shot twice and later rushed to hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is currently recovering, and while his condition remains under close watch, his family remains hopeful.
“He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” his cousin Mustafa told 7News. “We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero, 100 per cent.” Footage from the scene shows Ahmed, dressed in a white shirt, crouching behind a car in a crowded Bondi Beach car park just metres from one of the shooters.
As gunfire rang out, he waited for the right moment. Then, in a split-second decision, he sprinted between parked cars and grabbed the gunman from behind, placing him in a headlock. The struggle lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough. Ahmed wrestled the gun away, forcing the attacker to retreat toward a nearby bridge.
Despite being injured, Ahmed pointed the weapon at the gunman to keep him back. Video later showed Ahmed seated on the ground, bleeding from a leg wound, as bystanders rushed to help. Even then, he ensured the gun was placed safely against a tree.