SYDNEY: A man credited with saving lives by snatching a gun from one of the suspected attackers during a mass shooting on Australia's Bondi Beach received a check for more than 2.5 million Australian dollars ($1.65 million) on Friday, after tens of thousands of people contributed to a donation website.
Ahmed al Ahmed hid behind some parked cars before attacking one of the gunmen from behind, snatching his gun and throwing him to the ground. Ahmed suffered gunshot wounds after he was allegedly shot by a second assailant and remains in hospital after undergoing surgery.
Ahmed, a Muslim father of two, received a large check at his St George's hospital bed from Zachery Dereniowski, a social media influencer and co-organizer of the GoFundMe page, videos posted online show.
More than 43,000 people around the world contributed to the fundraiser, including billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who donated A$99,999 and shared the fundraiser on his X account. Australia's Prime Minister and state premier visited Ahmed in hospital to praise his bravery.
When they hand him the check, Ahmed asks, “Do I deserve it?” to which Dereniowski responds “down to the last cent,” as the video shows.
When asked what he would say to people who donated, Ahmed said: “To support each other, all human beings. And forget about all the bad… and move forward to save lives.”
“When I saved the people who [did it] from the bottom of my heart because it was a nice day, everyone enjoying the celebration, with their children, women, men, teenagers, everyone was happy and they deserve, they deserve to enjoy themselves,” Ahmed said, raising his uninjured fist in the air.
“This country [is the] the best country in the world, but we are not going to stand by and watch: enough is enough. God protect Australia. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.” The tobacco shop owner did not say what he planned to do with the money.
Ahmed, 43, left his hometown in Syria's northwestern Idlib province nearly 20 years ago to look for work in Australia.
About 15 people were killed and dozens injured Sunday after two gunmen opened fire on people celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, on the famous beach.
Authorities allege that a 50-year-old father, who was shot dead by police, and his 24-year-old son, who was seriously injured, carried out the attack.
