The Syrian-born hero who tackled one of the terrorists during the Bondi Beach attack may lose his left arm, his lawyer has confirmed. Ahmed Al-Ahmed, 43, was shot multiple times during his dramatic intervention last Sunday night.
A Hero's Resolve Amidst Severe Injuries
Despite the full scale of his life-altering injuries becoming clear, Mr Al-Ahmed is said to harbour no regrets over his actions. His migration lawyer, Sam Issa, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the father-of-two would do it all again. "He doesn’t regret what he did. He said he’d do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him," Mr Issa revealed.
The tobacconist was shot approximately five times in a spray of bullets that targeted his left arm, with an additional shot striking his left shoulder blade. "He’s not well at all. He’s riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment," his lawyer added. Mr Al-Ahmed is currently recovering from his first round of surgery at St George Hospital in Kogarah.
Global Acclaim and a Visit from the Governor General
His extraordinary courage has drawn worldwide praise. Governor General Sam Mostyn visited the injured man in hospital on Tuesday, bringing flowers from Admiralty House and conveying thanks from the Australian public and King Charles.
"For Ahmed, he wants to send thanks for… that moment of absolute heroics that we’ve all been staggered by and so grateful for," Ms Mostyn stated. She indicated that the 43-year-old is likely to receive a formal bravery award, having already garnered "many, many" nominations for his selfless act.
The Heart-Stopping Confrontation
Incredible footage from the night captures the moment Mr Al-Ahmed, a father to two young daughters aged six and seven, grabbed terrorist Sajid Akram from behind and wrestled his firearm away. The gunman fell to the ground as Mr Al-Ahmed aimed the rifle barrel at him but did not fire.
After resting the weapon against a tree, a second bystander rushed in. The entire altercation was witnessed by the second alleged gunman, Akram's 24-year-old son Naveed, who watched from a nearby footbridge armed with a gun. Naveed Akram was later taken to hospital under police guard with critical injuries, while his father was shot and killed by police at the scene.
As Mr Al-Ahmed continues his fight for recovery, his lawyer expressed grave concerns. "He’s a lot worse than expected. When you think of a bullet in the arm, you don’t think of serious injuries, but he has lost a lot of blood," Mr Issa said, fearing his client may yet lose his left arm. The nation now waits, hoping for the recovery of a man who, without hesitation, put himself in harm's way to protect others.
