Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmedis now a multi-millionaire.
More than $2.5 million has been raised for the heroic bystander who wrestled the gun from one of the terrorists during Sunday’s horrific mass shooting.
Nearly 43,000 individual donations have been made to a crowdfunding campaign for the Sutherland tobacconist — including a maximum of $99,999 from American billionaire Bill Ackman.
“In a moment of chaos and danger, Ahmed Al Ahmed stepped forward without hesitation,” the page reads.
“His actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without regard for his own safety. Early reports indicate he was shot twice in the process while protecting others. This GoFundMe has been created to show our gratitude and support for someone who demonstrated incredible courage when it mattered most.”
Total donations to verified fundraisers on GoFundMe for Bondi shooting victims and their families now stand at nearly $5 million.
Nearly $780,000 has been raised for the family of 10-year-old victim Matilda, the youngest of the 15 victims, who was farewelled at a funeral service in Woollahra on Thursday.
A fundraiser for Sofia, 61, and Boris Gurman, 69, who have also been hailed as heroes after they were shot dead attempting to thwart the attack, has raised $650,000.
More than $360,000 has been raised for the family of beloved Rabbi Eli Schlanger, whose funeral was held on Wednesday.
Boris Tetleroyd, who was shot alongside his son while attending the Hanukkah event, was named on Wednesday as the 13th known fatality. A fundraiser for Tetleroyd has raised nearly $72,000.
One of the deceased has yet to be publicly identified.
Among the more than 41 injured were two NSW Police officers. Constable Scott Dyson, 24, sustained horrific injuries to his shoulder. Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, 22, lost his left eye. Nearly $36,000 has been raised for Hibbert.
Alleged ISIS-inspired terrorists Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on crowds at Sydney’s iconic beach just before 7 p.m. on Sunday as more than 1000 people gathered for an event to celebrate the first day of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.
Al Ahmed, 42, who was hailed as a national hero after he was filmed rushing the elder gunman and wrestling away his firearm, was shot twice in the ordeal and remains in hospital.
Originally from war-torn Syria, he first arrived in Australia in 2006 and is the owner of Cigara, a tobacco shop in the Sydney suburb of Sutherland. Initial reports mistakenly identified Al Ahmed as a fruit shop owner.
NSW Premier Chris Minns personally met with Al Ahmed during his recovery, posting a touching message to Instagram about his heroism.
“Ahmed is a real-life hero,” Minns wrote.
“Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk. It was an honour to spend time with him just now and to pass on the thanks of people across NSW. There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if not for Ahmed’s selfless courage. Thank you, Ahmed.”
Anthony Albanese also visited Al Ahmed at St George Hospital in Sydney on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister spent about half an hour with Al Ahmed before leaving the hospital and sharing his thoughts with the media pack waiting outside.
He described Al Ahmed as a “true Australian hero” and said meeting him was a “great honour”.
“He went through his thought processes as he saw the atrocities unfold,” Albanese said.
“He had gone to Bondi with friends and relatives, he was trying to get a cup of coffee, simple as that, and found himself at a moment where people were being shot in front of him. He decided to take action and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians. He is a very humble man.”
Al Ahmed is likely to receive a bravery award from Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
“It would be staggering that he wouldn’t be receiving some form of bravery award,” Mostyn said. “I think he’s been nominated many, many times already and in the context of what we saw, of course he is a brave man who has done something truly heroic.”
She said she spoke to King Charles overnight and he asked her to send thanks to Al Ahmed for his “absolute heroics”.
Cook MP Simon Kennedy has also praised Al Ahmed for “single-handedly disarming a terrorist massacring innocent Jewish Australians.”
Kennedy said he had nominated Al Ahmed for Australia’s highest bravery award, the Cross of Valour.
“Ahmed we wish you well, you are a national hero,” he said.
Speaking for the first time from his hospital bed, Al Ahmed said he “appreciated the efforts of everyone.”
“May Allah reward you and grant wellbeing,” he said in Arabic.
The video was uploaded to social media and was translated by Turkish news agency TRT World.
“Through Allah, I went through a very difficult phase, only Allah knows it,” he continued.
“I ask my mother, the apple of my eye, to pray for me. Pray for me, my mother. God willing, it will be a minor injury. Pay for me that Allah eases our situation, and deliver us from this hardship.”
Al Ahmed is speaking while being wheeled away, with a nurse appearing to guide his movements while he is being filmed.
Despite his injuries, Al Ahmed earlier said he did not regret what he did.
His migration lawyer Sam Issa, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, said the pain had “started to take a toll on him” while revealing he feared Al Ahmed may lose his arm.
“He’s not well at all. He’s riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment,” Issa told the publication.
Issa said Al Ahmed sustained about five bullet wounds across his left arm — one plunging into the back of his left shoulder blade.
“Ahmed’s a humble man, he’s not interested in coverage, he just did what he was compelled to do as a human being on that day. He gets that gratitude from being in Australia. This is his way of conveying his gratitude for staying in Australia, for being granted citizenship.”
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