Ahmed al-Ahmed, the courageous man who tackled a gunman, disarmed him, seized his rifle, and aimed it back during the Bondi Beach shooting, is now asking for prayers amid fears he could lose one of his arms.
The 43-year-old fruit shop owner was shot twice by another gunman while in the act of taking down one of the assailants.
His heroic deed, which nearly cost him his life, has been widely praised. A GoFundMe page set up in his name raised more than AUS $1 million just hours after it went live.
In a video recorded while on a hospital stretcher, Mr. al-Ahmed thanked God for surviving what he described as “a difficult time.” Speaking in Arabic, he said: “I went through a difficult time. God knows. Thanks be to God. Praise God for everything.” He added, “You must pray for us. May God heal you and bring you home safely.”
Al-Ahmed, who is originally from Syria and a devout Muslim, is expected to make a full recovery, though he still faces further surgical procedures. There are concerns he may lose his arm.
His immigration lawyer said al-Ahmed “doesn’t regret what he did” and would “do it again,” despite his injuries and the pain that has begun to take a toll on him.