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Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the hero who disarmed a gunman during the Bondi Beach terror attacks, has been handed a $2.5 million cheque in hospital.
Heartwarming footage captured the moment the Syrian-born father of two learned that 43,000 people across the world had donated money to honour his bravery.
‘I deserve it?’ was the response Mr Al-Ahmed, 42, gave when a man handed him the cheque in the video posted to social media.
‘Every penny,’ the man answered.
Asked what he would say to the tens of thousands of people who donated, Mr Al-Ahmed’s message was one of peace and unity.
‘To stand with each other, all human beings, and forget everything bad behind the back, and keep going to save life. Save lives,’ he said from his hospital bed.
‘When I do save the people, I do it from the heart.’
Viewers of the video were touched by Mr Al-Ahmed’s modesty.
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Pictured is the moment Mr Al-Ahmed was handed a $2.5million cheque in hospital
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The father-of-two is pictured aiming a firearm at the elder gunman following an altercation
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‘F***… what a man. What a hero. That guy deserves a statue,’ one person said on X.
‘He deserves every cent, but the heirs of the two Jewish people who tried to stop them and were gunned down also deserve something,’ another added.
‘I deserve. F***ing dead right buddy, every penny,’ a third said.
Fifteen innocent people were killed in Sunday night’s mass shooting including a ten-year-old girl, with dozens more left seriously injured.
The terrifying incident unfolded as hundreds gathered to attend the Hanukkah by the Sea event, marking the first day of the Jewish celebration.
From his hospital bed, Mr Ahmed recalled the scene at Bondi Beach moments before the alleged gunmen Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire.
‘It was a nice day, everyone enjoying, celebrating with their kids, woman, man, teenager,’ he said.
‘Everyone was happy… they deserve to enjoy and it’s their right.
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Mr Al-Ahmed’s GoFundMe campaign has so far raised more than $2.5million
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NSW Premier Chris Minns is pictured at Mr Al-Ahmed’s bedside earlier this week
‘This country (is the) best country in the world… We’re not going to stand and keep watching, enough is enough.
‘God protect Australia. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.’
The Sutherland tobacconist was hailed as a national hero after footage surfaced of him rushing the elder gunman and wrestling away his firearm.
The intervention came at a significant personal cost, with Mr Al-Ahmed suffering multiple bullet wounds to the shoulder and arm.
The groundswell fundraising campaign for Mr Al-Ahmed garnered international attention, including a maximum $99,999 donation from US billionaire Bill Ackman.
Mr Al-Ahmed’s fundraiser, launched by CarHub Australia, is one of several established in the days since the terror attack.
Total donations to verified GoFundMe campaigns now sit at about $5 million, including nearly $800,000 for the family of the youngest victim, ten-year-old Matilda.
More than $650,000 has been raised for Sofia, 61, and Boris Gurman, 69, who were also hailed as heroes after they were killed attempting to put a swift end to the attack.
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Governor General Sam Mostyn gave thanks on behalf of the Australian public and King Charles
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Nearly $5million has been raised to support victims and their families in the wake of the Bondi Beach shooting on Sunday night. Mourners are pictured at a vigil on Monday
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Donations to the family of slain Rabbi Eli Schlanger have surpassed $360,000 and a further $72,000 for Boris Tetleroyd, who was shot alongside his son at the event.
NSW Premier Chris Minns described Mr Al-Ahmed as a ‘real-life hero’ after meeting with him in hospital earlier this week.
The governor general also visited the ailing hero in hospital on Tuesday, bringing with her flowers plucked from Admiralty House.
She gave thanks on behalf of the Australian public and King Charles, whom she said asked after Mr Al-Ahmed the night prior.
‘For Ahmed, (King Charles) wants to send thanks for… that moment of absolute heroics that we’ve all been staggered by and so grateful for,’ Mostyn said.
She added the 43-year-old would likely receive a bravery award and that he had already received ‘many, many’ nominations.
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene. His son, Naveed, was rushed to hospital under police guard with critical injuries.
The 24-year-old spent two days in a coma before being hit with dozens of charges, including 15 counts of murder.
