Ahmed al-Ahmed’s bravery on Bondi Beach earned him admiration across the world. But the price he paid for that courage has been devastating.
Now, his lawyer has shared a new update on Ahmed’s condition — and it paints a heartbreaking picture.
The 43-year-old Syrian-born tobacconist was hailed as a hero after confronting a gunman during the horrific Bondi Beach attack in Sydney on Sunday, December 14. When two attackers opened fire on a crowded beach, Ahmed rushed toward danger instead of away from it, tackling and disarming one of the shooters in an act that likely saved countless lives.
Moments before stepping in, Ahmed warned his cousin of what he believed would be his fate.
“He said: ‘I’m going to die – please see my family and tell them that I went down to save people’s lives,’” his cousin Jozay Alkanj told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Video footage of Ahmed’s actions quickly went viral, showing him fearlessly intervening as chaos unfolded around him. But the heroism came at a severe cost. During the struggle, Ahmed was shot twice and has remained in intensive care ever since.
“At this stage, he says he has no feeling in his arm,” his lawyer Sam Issa told the Daily Mail in one of the earliest updates on Ahmed’s condition.
Speaking later to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Issa shared further details about the toll the injuries have taken on the father of two.
“Ahmed had recently undergone a very complex operation which involved nerve damage and is currently in a lot of discomfort today, naturally,” Issa said on Thursday, December 18.
He added that Ahmed is preparing to undergo another eight-hour surgery the following day, underscoring the seriousness of his injuries and the long road to recovery ahead.
Earlier in the week, Ahmed addressed the public from his hospital bed, offering words of gratitude and faith in Arabic, later translated.
“I appreciate the efforts of everyone. May Allah reward you and grant you wellbeing. God willing, we will return to you with joy. Thank you for your efforts,” he said.
He also shared a deeply personal message for his mother: “I went through a very difficult phase, only Allah knows it … I ask my mother, the apple of my eye, to pray for me.”
Ahmed’s extraordinary courage has drawn visits from some of Australia’s highest-profile leaders. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited him in hospital, telling him, “You’re very strong. Your heart is strong. Your courage is inspiring.”
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also paid tribute to Ahmed’s actions.
“It’s the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen,” Minns said. “A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people. That man is a genuine hero. I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”
Public support has poured in as well. Footage of Ahmed’s actions inspired a fundraising campaign that has now raised more than $2.5 million from over 42,000 donors.
The Bondi Beach attack claimed the lives of 15 people, along with one of the alleged gunmen, 50-year-old Sajid Akram. Authorities have described the tragedy as the deadliest attack in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, leaving the nation in deep mourning.
Police have charged the surviving suspect, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, with 59 offenses. These include 15 counts of murder, one count of committing a terrorist act, 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, one count of discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one count of placing an explosive in or near a building, and a charge related to displaying a prohibited terrorist organization symbol.
As Ahmed continues to fight through pain and repeated surgeries, his actions remain a powerful reminder of how one person’s courage can change — and save — countless lives.
