Gefen Bitton, who raced to help Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmed, in ICU
“He was shot there, fell to the ground and was shot again.”
“Gefen risked his own life with his selfless actions,” the family’s statement said.
“Gefen, an unarmed Israeli civilian living peacefully in Australia, made a decision most of us would never even consider. He faced danger as only a hero does, guided by the values for which he was educated and raised. A true hero who deserves to be recognized.”
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His friend Cay Barr said: gofundme It was created for his “beautiful friend” Bitton.
“He’s an absolute hero who deserves to be recognized, not just bystander,” Barr said. “After multiple surgeries and a long road ahead, he is currently in intensive care. We are praying that he will be stable enough to wake up in the coming days.”
Lifesavers honored the victims
Hundreds of lifeguard surfers observed a minute’s silence on the sands of Bondi Beach on Saturday to remember the 15 innocent people killed in Sunday’s terror attack.
Many of the lifeguards were first responders; he was carrying the wounded to the lawn outside their club; Here paramedics and off-duty doctors nearby were treating the injured.
The red and yellow uniformed guard of honor stretched from one end of Bondi’s shoreline to the other and stood in silence for three minutes. The pincers clung to their parents. A woman was expected to shed tears over her baby in her arms.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce said other clubs across Australia had also stood in solidarity this morning.
“I’m incredibly proud, we all stood shoulder to shoulder, we all cried,” Pearce said.
Chris Cooper, 27, was one of the first surf lifeguards to arrive on the scene last Sunday.
Tamarama and Bondi surf lifesavers observed a minute’s silence at Bondi Beach this morning. Credit: Oscar Colman
“I was by the showers too,” Cooper said, pointing to the Bondi surf club.
“When the gunfire started to slow down, I ran to the playground. I was probably one of the first people to actually see it,” he said, referring to the site of the Hanukkah by the Sea event that was the target of the terrorist attack.
He said he then ran back to collect first aid equipment.
Standing with his fellow lifeguards, Cooper said this special moment shows that the community is here to help each other after Sunday’s horrific events.
“I’ve been involved with Surf Life Saving since I was five years old, and I’ve never seen a stronger community than this,” he said.
Dozens injured
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Of the 42 injured people taken to hospitals in Sydney on Sunday, 15 were still receiving treatment on Saturday.
- One patient is in a stable condition at Prince of Wales Hospital
- One patient is in a critical but stable condition, another patient is in a stable condition at St George’s Hospital
- Three patients at St Vincent’s Hospital are in critical but stable condition, one patient is stable
- Five patients at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital are in stable condition
- Three patients at Royal North Shore Hospital are in a stable condition
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