‘Best of our country’: Australian prime minister visits Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed in Sydney hospital | Bondi beach terror attack
The man who tackled one of the Bondi attackers spoke in hospital while recovering from his injuries and was visited by Anthony Albanese, who praised him as “the best in our country”.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, risked his life to disarm one of the Bondi attackers and save scores of lives in Sydney on Sunday evening.
Türkiye’s public broadcaster TRT World on Tuesday posted a video Ahmed was wheeled around the hospital in a wheelchair while praying for supporters.
“I appreciate everyone’s efforts,” he said.
“May God reward you and grant you well-being. Hopefully, we will return to you with joy. Thank you for your efforts.”
“I went through a very difficult time, only God knows… I ask my mother, the apple of my eye, to pray for me.”
Governor-General Sam Mostyn visited the Syrian-born tradesman, who was undergoing surgery for two gunshot wounds, at St George hospital in Sydney’s south on Tuesday afternoon.
Carrying the flowers he had collected from the Admiralty Building, he told him about the public and King Henry III, who he said had been asking throughout the night specifically about the man’s name. He thanked me on behalf of Charles.
“He would like to thank Ahmed for that moment of absolute heroism for which we were all astounded and grateful,” Mostyn said.
He said he expected to give Ahmed a bravery award and that he had already been nominated “many times”.
On Tuesday morning the prime minister spent nearly half an hour visiting the man he described as “our country’s finest”
Ahmed thanked Anthony Albanese as he lay in a hospital bed, his left wound heavily bandaged, dripping fluid and bouquets of flowers next to him.
In the video he shared on Instagram, Abbanese shook Ahmed’s right hand and said, “Your heart is strong, your courage is inspiring.”
The Prime Minister told reporters on Wednesday that the man was recovering well ahead of further surgery and described his thought processes during their conversation on Sunday evening.
“While he was trying to buy such a simple cup of coffee, he found himself in a moment where people were shot in front of him,” the Prime Minister said.
“He decided to take action and his courage is an inspiration to all Australians. He is a very humble man.”
Albanese also met Ahmed’s mother and father, who came from Syria, at the hospital and said they were “very proud” of their son.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns visited Ahmed in hospital and spoke to him on Monday night.
Former prime minister John Howard also praised Ahmed’s bravery in an interview with Sky News on Tuesday.
“The only brave act we saw was the gorgeous guy attacking the guy with a gun, and I understand he was a Muslim,” Howard said.
“There are good people of all walks of life in this great country, and although this is a terrible tragedy and a reminder that anything can happen here, we must not lose faith in Australia’s success.”
GoFundMe, set up to support the man, has raised more than $2 million, including a $99,999 donation from William Ackman, US billionaire and founder of hedge fund Pershing Square.
