Wounded Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed recovering well and may soon leave hospital | Bondi beach terror attack
Members of the Syrian community say Ahmed al-Ahmed’s condition is improving from the gunshot wounds he received while confronting the Bondi attackers and he could leave the hospital soon.
The 44-year-old man underwent three rounds of surgery at a Sydney hospital after being shot five times in a terrorist attack on a Hanukkah event at Bondi beach.
Tamer Kahil, a member of the Syrian community in Sydney who visited Ahmed, said Ahmed’s wounds had been cleaned of shrapnel, closed and healed. He is an orthopedic surgeon but he is not interested in his treatment.
Kahil said Ahmed could likely be discharged soon as he continues to improve.
“He seems happier… He is a humble person and also a shy person,” Kahil said.
While Ahmed, who owned a tobacco shop in Sydney’s south, was drinking coffee with his cousin in Bondi, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed allegedly opened fire, killing 15 people.
Mobile phone footage shows Ahmed crawling towards Sajid Akram from behind the cars, then tackling him, taking the rifle from his hand, pointing it at him, and then leaning the gun against a tree. The subsequent gunfire left five bullets in Ahmed’s left arm and shoulder.
Lubaba Alhmidi AlKahil, media director of the Association of Australians for Syria, said Ahmed’s left arm was not expected to regain normal function for at least six months due to injured nerves.
The Sutherland store, where hundreds of people left notes and flowers in tribute, is unlikely to reopen anytime soon. AlKahil said he will instead rest, recover and spend time with his family.
“He needs to rest, he needs to spend time with his family, he has been away from his wife and daughters for a long time,” he said.
Family members kept an eye on Ahmed’s recovery and received visits from well-wishers and dignitaries.
“He said that many people from the government from different backgrounds, different religions, different ethnicities visited him and congratulated him,” AlKahil said. he said.
“He is very happy, he feels very peaceful.”
Visitors included the prime minister, the premier of NSW, the governor-general of Australia, personal thanks from King Charles, and recently chairman of the NSW Jewish council of MPs, David Ossip.
Ossip praised Ahmed’s “incredible courage” at a memorial service for the victims of the terrorist attack on Sunday, where he was joined by his father, Mohammed Fateh al-Ahmed, who embraced members of the Jewish community and received a standing ovation.
He and his wife Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed had been arriving from Syria for the past three months, and al-Ahmed’s former immigration lawyer Sam Issa had called for them to be granted Australian citizenship so they would not have to return. Issa said Tuesday that the government has not yet accepted that proposal.
The Prime Minister announced a new honors list for Bondi’s heroes on Wednesday and AlKahil said he expected al-Ahmed’s efforts to be recognised.
Australians and sympathizers around the world donated $2.5 million to the shopkeeper via GoFundMe to support his recovery. Ahmed, who was presented with the innovation check, asked: “Did I deserve this?” he asked.
AlKahil said that the fame and recognition, as well as the injuries, would change al-Ahmed’s life.
“He’s a very famous person now. He has a fortune. While they surround him with all the love and care they can, he needs to think hard about what the next step in his life will be,” he said.
