A pregnant mother-of-two has been hailed a hero after using her own body to shield a terrified three-year-old girl during the deadly terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach.
A Night of Celebration Turns to Terror
The horrific incident unfolded on Sunday evening, just before 7pm, as hundreds of people gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event at the iconic Australian beach. Alleged attackers Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father Sajid Akram are said to have opened fire on the crowds using military-grade weapons.
Among the attendees was Vanessa, who was watching her daughter, three-year-old Gigi, dance. In the ensuing chaos, she suddenly realised her little girl was missing. "She was gone," Vanessa recounted, describing the "absolute panic" that set in after confirming Gigi was not with her husband, Wayne.
"I Got You": A Mother's Instinct in the Chaos
Jess, who is five months pregnant, was also at the beach celebrating Hanukkah with her family. She became separated from her own young son during the panic. While searching for him, she spotted little Gigi alone and crying in an open area.
Without a second thought, Jess ran towards the toddler. She grabbed Gigi, lay on top of her, and used her pregnant body as a human shield as bullets rang out around them. "We stayed still, I laid on top of her and we spoke about how we were going to stay still and calm, and quiet," Jess told Sky News.
Video from the scene shows Jess, with blood dripping down her forehead, comforting the scared child. When Gigi asked if they could hide, Jess replied, "Yes, we can hide baby girl." She reassured her, saying, "I got you, we are going to stay here and be nice and safe and no one is going to hurt us."
Emotional Reunion and Rising Toll
Jess protected Gigi until the ordeal ended, with Wayne finding the heroic mother still lying on top of his daughter. On Tuesday, an emotional reunion was held. Both mothers broke down in tears and embraced as Vanessa thanked Jess for saving her daughter's life.
"Everyone ran for their lives, you ran towards the bullets, to my baby girl," a grateful Vanessa said. "I know she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for [Jess]. What three-year-old knows to duck and take cover?"
Jess revealed the extreme danger they were in, stating a woman had been fatally shot less than two metres from where they lay. She said she felt "very afraid" but protecting Gigi was her sole focus as she couldn't find her own son. "I'm just a mum and I did what mums do. I saw a little girl and she needed help and I tried to do what I could," she said humbly. Thankfully, Jess later found her son safe at a playground with his grandmother.
The attack's death toll has risen to 16, including alleged gunman Sajid Akram. A further 42 people, including four children, were injured and taken to hospital. The victims include:
- 10-year-old girl Matilda
- Prominent Sydney Rabbi Eli Schlanger
- Rabbi Yakkov Levitan
- 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman
- Beloved husband and father Tibor Weitzen
- Synagogue assistant Reuven Morrison
- Rugby volunteer and photographer Peter Meagher
- 27-year-old French Jewish national Dan Elkayam
Hundreds have since flocked to Bondi Beach Pavilion to pay tribute to the 15 innocent lives lost and those injured in the devastating attack.
