WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
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Parents Wayne and Vanessa have praised a pregnant woman for protecting their three-year-old daughter in the Bondi Beach terror attack.
On December 14, two gunmen opened fire on Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach, killing fifteen victims and wounding countless others.
January 22 was declared a National Day of Mourning to remember the victims, and on that day, two parents spoke out to praise the heroic actions of one woman.
Vanessa and Wayne feared the worst when they couldn’t find their daughter, Gigi, three, during the shooting, while Wayne was protecting their other child, Capri.
After getting Capri to safety, Wayne ran back to find Gigi, but feared the worst, until he found her safe, having been protected by a pregnant woman, Jess, who lay on top of her.
“I was expecting the worst,” he recalled on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
“There was no one up, and there was just so much, you know, so many people hurt and dead. And when I saw my little girl, and it was just that feeling of relief when I saw her face. I could see she looked up at me, and she had blood. I thought that was her blood. And that was terrifying.”
However, the blood was from Jess, who had bravely thrown her own body over Gigi’s to protect her. Both Gigi and Jess survived the harrowing attack.
“I can’t tell you that moment when I knew I had my daughter safe,” Wayne added. “And in amongst all that, those feelings, just that emotion of absolute, you know, beautiful emotion that I knew my daughter was alive and that I could take her back to my wife, who I knew was just completely tormented.”
Vanessa also revealed she had tried to take an injured policeman’s gun to try and help others, and credited Ahmed al-Ahmed, who disarmed one of the gunmen, for saving Wayne and Capri’s lives.
“I just wanted to go in and save lives. I was in fight mode,” she explained.
“I said, if I’ve lost my child, and I just knew, I know it sounds terrible, I just knew that my husband and Capri were next because I saw the gunman walk down. If it wasn’t for Ahmed Al Ahmed, I tell you now, my husband and my daughter wouldn’t be here, and there would have been multiple, multiple more.”
Scroll on to read Ahmed al-Ahmed’s story and the other brave heroes from the day.
Brave bystander tackled gunman
The bystander who valiantly leapt to action and tackled one of the Bondi Beach gunmen has been identified as 43-year-old Ahmed al-Ahmed.
Ahmed, from Syria, suffered two gunshot wounds and is being treated in hospital after undergoing surgery on Sunday night.
His cousin, Mustafa, told 7News that he was a hero for his actions, as he provided an update on his status.
“He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” he told the outlet. “We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero, 100 per cent.”
Ahmed was visited in hospital by both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns, while more than $2million has been raised for him via a GoFundMe.
Footage from the scene showed Ahmed – clad casually in a white polo shirt and jeans – crouching behind a car in the car park before he charged on the older of the two attackers from behind.
Grabbing him in a headlock, a struggle ensued before he was able to wrestle the shotgun from his hands.
He then pointed the weapon at the shooter as he waited for police to apprehend him, though he managed to get back to the bridge, where his son, 24, was still actively shooting.
Ahmed was shot twice following the scuffle – once in the arm and once in the hand – with onlookers rushing to his aid, wrapping his wounds with a towel.
A second man, who took shelter with Ahmed behind a tree as the shooting continued, was also shot.
Police shot and killed the older of the two shooters moments later, his son taken into custody suffering injuries.
Father died a hero while throwing bricks at attacker
The daughter of Bondi Beach shooting victim, Reuven Morrison, has told how her father died a hero while throwing bricks at the attacker.
In a heartbreaking interview with CBS News, Sheina Gutnick revealed her father, Reuven, 62, was killed while attempting to stop one of the gunmen.
“From my sources and understanding, he had jumped up the second the shooting started. He managed to throw bricks at the terrorist,” she said through tears.
Footage from the scene showed a man throwing bricks at one of the gunmen after Ahmed managed to disarm him in a bid to protect his community.
“He was screaming at the terrorist,” she said.
“My dear father, Reuven Morrison was shot dead for being Jewish at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach while protecting lives, while jumping up, putting his own life at risk to save his fellow Jewish community members.”
Sheina said she was at a Hanukkah event in Melbourne with other family members when they heard news of the shooting.
She tearfully revealed her father fled the Soviet Union five decades ago to escape antisemitism, and moved to Australia because “he thought that this would be safe”.
Bondi Rescue lifeguards hailed heroes
While everyone was running for their lives as shots rang out, one Bondi lifeguard sprang into action, putting his life on the line to save a drowning swimmer.
After warning others in the ocean around him of the danger, having heard the initial gunshots, the man found himself unable to swim back to shore.
It was then that he sighted the shooter positioned on a platform directly opposite him.
The swimmer, known only as Levi, is reported by The Standard to be a Chinese tourist from Harbin.
Just as he feared the worst, the intense stress of the situation hampering his ability to swim to safety, a lifeguard paddled up on a surfboard and rescued him.
“Shout out to the bondi beach lifeguard who, while there was shots being fired and we were all ducking for cover behind their buggy, noticed someone in the water struggling so grabbed a board and went to rescue them,” witness Daniel Sinnott posted to Instagram.
Lifeguard Chase Hardaker reposted the image, commenting: “Proud to work alongside some of the bravest people serving the community in all circumstances. Some of the boys first on scene whilst shots still being fired. Deadset heroes.”
Witnesses also took to social media to praise the lifeguard for his heroism.
“Doing what lifeguards in Australia do … Putting his life at risk to help others,” one person wrote.
“The highest level of heroism. Bondi lifeguards are built different,” commented another.
Bondi Rescue star Andrew “Reidy” Reid also praised his colleagues on Instagram.
“7pm yesterday in Bondi – lifeguard: Jacko running over from Tamarama with medical equipment to back up Lifeguards, Clubbies, Police, Ambos and other everyday heroes who tried to save people during yesterday’s attack,” he captioned a photo of Jackson “Jacko” Doolan running barefoot up the street.
“I can’t even begin to imagine what you all had to witness and deal with, but you are all the most incredible people. I’m grateful we live in a world where you exist to show that kindness will always conquer evil. Thank you.”
Reidy was previously caught up in last year’s Bondi Junction stabbing last year.
He told our sister publication Woman’s Day in April 2024 that he was seeking shelter in Myer when he insisted a security guard let him out to help the victims of the rampage.
“I could see a woman bleeding really badly and I thought, ‘I’ve just got to get down there and help,’” he said.
Fellow Bondi Rescue lifeguard Trent “Maxi” Maxwell shared his “deepest condolences to the victims and families” impacted by the horrific tragedy as he praised his colleagues.
“I am incredibly proud of the lifeguard team who responded, many of them among the first on scene to assist those in need,” he wrote on social media.
“Lifeguards also responded from Tama & Bronte beaches with defibrillators and first aid kits, lifeguards used the buggy bike to provide shelter for beachgoers, and also carried out a double rescue while gunshots were still being heard…
“What I witnessed in the triage area was pure professionalism from all first responders. In the midst of chaos, there was calm, control, and teamwork. Everyone played their part to stabilise casualties and prepare them for transport to hospital.”
Parents praise woman shot protecting their daughter
The parents of a three-year-old caught up in the shooting have praised the stranger who saved her life.
After losing sight of their youngest daughter Gigi in the chaos of the attack, Wayne and Vanessa were beyond relieved to find the child being shielded by a woman named Jess, who herself had been shot.
“I went, I was looking, there was just blood and bodies everywhere and she was wearing a pink skirt and I saw this lady lying on top of her,” father-of-three Wayne told Sky News.
“She said, ‘I’ve got your daughter, I’ve been protecting her.’
“I said, ‘You’ve saved my daughter’s life,'” he continued, adding, “I said, ‘I’ll be indebted to you for the rest of my life.’”
Vanessa expressed the scene as “mayhem” as bullets rained down around the family, who felt like “sitting ducks” as they tried to shelter from the gunmen.
“I actually tried to grad the policeman’s gun and he grabbed me,” she recalled of the officer, who had been “shot in the head”.
“I was ready to just get in there and just – I didn’t know what to do. I could just see blood everywhere and then I stayed down.”
Celebrity tributes pour in for Bondi Beach terror attack victims
As news of the tragedy spread around the world, celebrities and royals alike took to social media to share their heartache and disbelief at what had occurred.
“I am so horrified by the terrorist attack that took place on Bondi Beach, in my beautiful hometown of Sydney,” Australian actress Rose Byrne wrote.
“My heart goes out to the victims, their families & the Jewish community. Australia is one of the safest placed in the world to practice any religion and [I] am shocked, heartbroken & horrified by this unspeakable news.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales also shared their condolences, writing: “Out thoughts are with every Australian today following the terrible attack at Bondi Beach.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and stand with the Jewish community in grief.
“We are also thinking about the bravery of the emergency responders, particularly the two injured officers.”
The Block judge Shaynna Blaze singled out Ahmed for his heroism as she posted: “Devastated of the shooting in Bondi and what an incredible act of bravery from this man.”
Today Extra co-host Sylvia Jeffreys said she found it “hard to comprehend what has unfolded in beautiful, vibrant, inclusive Bondi”.
“How can our own backyard feel so unfamiliar? I send love and support to the Jewish community – you should have been able to gather in peace.
“To the loved ones of those who’ve been killed or injured. To the parents who are wondering how to explain this to their children.
“As one of my friends said to me yesterday, love is more powerful than hate and I know the Bondi community will prove that.”
King Frederik and Australian-born Queen Mary of Denmark extended their “deepest and most heartfelt condolences” to the victims and their loved ones.
“We and the people of Denmark are profoundly saddened by the tragic news of the terror attack at Bondi Beach today,” they wrote.
How you can help
New South Wales residents have been asked to give blood as hospitals operate on a trauma level.
In particular, type O donors are needed, according to the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
Sixteen people have been confirmed dead in the tragedy, ranging in age from 10 to 87. A further 40 have been admitted to hospitals across Sydney.
“The first thing, of course, is to listen to New South Wales police and emergency services, [but] if you’re looking for something practical to do, you could give blood,” Premier Chris Minns said at a press conference on Monday morning.
“We saw extraordinary scenes from New South Wales hospitals last night, emergency departments at the drop of a hat were in the process of saving scores of lives.
“They did an incredible job but they need your help. They need blood and, if you’re thinking about doing an act of public service in the coming 24 hours, I urge you to contact the Red Cross and do that piece of public-mindedness, that piece of public spiritedness.”
Visit lifeblood.com.au to find your nearest donor centre.
