Ahmed Al-Ahmad, “Bondi Champion,” receives 2.5 million Australian dollars

Ahmed Al-Ahmad, nicknamed the “Bondi Hero” after he snatched a weapon from one of the suspected attackers during a shooting on the Australian beach of Bondai, received a check worth more than 2.5 million Australian dollars (1.65 million US dollars) today, Friday, after a huge donation campaign in which tens of thousands participated online.

Ahmed Al-Ahmad hid behind parked cars before attacking one of the gunmen from behind, grabbing his weapon and throwing him to the ground. ⁠Ahmed was injured by bullets apparently fired by the second attacker, and is still in the hospital after undergoing surgery.

A video clip posted online showed that Ahmed, a Muslim father of two girls, received a huge check on his bed at St. George Hospital from Zachary Derenyowski, a social media influencer and one of the organizers of the Go Fund Me page.

More than 43,000 people from around the world contributed to the fundraising, and billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman donated 99,999 Australian dollars and shared the fundraising campaign on his account on the X platform. The Australian Prime Minister and the state premier visited Ahmed in the hospital to praise his courage. Ahmed appeared in the video clip receiving the check and asked, “Do I deserve it?” Derinyovsky replied, “Every penny.”

When Ahmed was asked what he wanted to say to the people who donated, he said, “For all of us humans to come together. We forget everything that is bad… and we continue to strive to save lives.” Ahmed raised his uninjured fist in the air and added, “When I saved people (I did it) from the bottom of my heart because it was a beautiful day and everyone was enjoying and celebrating with the children, women, men and young people all. Everyone was happy and deserved to enjoy.”

He added, “This country (is) the best country in the world, the best in the world, but we will not stand idly by and watch. Enough is enough. May God protect Australia.” Ahmed, a tobacco shop owner, did not say what he intended to do with the money.

Ahmed (43 years old) left his hometown in Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria, about 20 years ago in search of work in Australia.

Two gunmen killed 15 people and wounded dozens on Sunday when they opened fire on those celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights (Hanukkah) on the famous beach. Authorities say a 50-year-old father, who was shot dead by police, and his 24-year-old son, who was seriously injured, carried out the attack.