Man who tackled Bondi Beach attacker hailed as ‘genuine hero’ after mass shooting

A Sydney fruit shop owner who wrestled a gun from one of the alleged attackers during a mass shooting at Bondi Beach is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery for bullet wounds to his arm and hand, his family said.

Forty-three-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed was identified on social media as the bystander who hid behind parked cars before charging the gunman from behind, seizing his rifle and knocking him to the ground.

Australian police said on Monday that a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son carried out the attack at a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday afternoon, killing 15 people in the country’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.

Read More: Father-son duo behind Sydney shooting that killed 15 civilians, police say

Ahmed’s cousin, Mustafa, told 7News Australia that doctors had informed the family he was stable following surgery. “He is a hero, he is a hundred percent hero,” Mustafa said. “Still he is in the hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside, but we hope he will be fine.”

Tributes poured in from leaders at home and abroad. U.S. President Donald Trump described Ahmed as “a very, very brave person” who saved many lives, while New South Wales Premier Chris Minns hailed him as “a genuine hero,” calling the footage of the incident “the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Ahmed, raising more than A$200,000 ($132,900) within hours. Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was the largest donor, contributing A$99,999 and sharing the fundraiser on social media.