A 14-year-old girl has emerged as a true heroine from the horror of the Bondi Beach terror attack, after she reportedly threw herself over two young children to protect them from a hail of bullets.
A Selfless Act of Bravery Amidst Chaos
The teenager, identified only as Chaya due to her age, was attending a Hanukkah by the Sea event in Sydney on Sunday when two gunmen opened fire. According to the Israeli emergency volunteer organisation United Hatzalah, which deployed to Australia after the attack, Chaya was near the assailants when the shooting began.
In the ensuing panic, she spotted two children in immediate danger. Without a second thought for her own safety, she lunged on top of them, using her own body as a human shield against the gunfire. During this desperate act, Chaya was struck by a bullet in the leg. Despite her injury, she remained steadfast, covering the children until emergency help could reach them and she was rushed to hospital.
Community Mourns as Investigation Advances
The attack, which police have described as a terrorist act inspired by ISIS, left 15 people dead and 22 injured, nine of whom remain in a critical condition. Chaya is among those still receiving hospital treatment. Members of United Hatzalah's Psychotrauma unit who visited her said she recounted the traumatic events softly, describing an instinctive need to protect the children.
Meanwhile, the Jewish community is in mourning. Thirteen of the fifteen victims have been publicly identified, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Sofia and Boris Gurman, and Edith Brutman.
Police have charged Naveed Akram, 24, with 59 offences in connection with the massacre. Authorities allege he and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, who was killed by police, engaged in an antisemitic rampage to advance a religious cause. Naveed Akram's case has been adjourned until April 2026.
An Inspiration in the Face of Terror
Chaya's incredible bravery has sparked an outpouring of admiration online, where she has been called a "G-d given hero". A woman claiming to be her teacher posted on social media, saying the teen was "on my mind all the time" and that the community was reeling from the attack.
Her selfless actions stand as a profound moment of courage and humanity during one of Australia's darkest days, a stark contrast to the hate that motivated the attackers. As the investigation continues and the wounded recover, the story of this teenage girl's instinct to protect the innocent offers a glimmer of light and hope.
