The man who tackled one of the Bondi shooters has spoken from hospital as he recovers from his injuries and received a visit from Anthony Albanese, who praised him as “the best of our country”.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, 44, risked his life to disarm one of the alleged Bondi attackers and save multiple lives in Sydney on Sunday evening.
Turkey’s public broadcaster, TRT World, on Tuesday posted a video of Ahmed being wheeled around hospital while he sent prayers to supporters.
“I appreciate the efforts of everyone,” he said in Arabic.
“May Allah reward you and grant you wellbeing. God willing, we will return to you with joy. Thank you for your efforts.
“I went through a very difficult phase, only Allah knows it … I ask my mother, the apple of my eye, to pray for me.”
The governor general, Sam Mostyn, visited the Syrian-born shopkeeper on Tuesday afternoon at St George hospital in Sydney’s south, where he had undergone surgery on two gunshot wounds.
Carrying flowers picked from Admiralty House, she thanked him on behalf of the public and of King Charles, who she said had specifically asked after the man overnight.
“For Ahmed, he wants to send thanks for … that moment of absolute heroics that we’ve all been staggered by and so grateful for,” Mostyn said.
She said she expected Ahmed would receive a bravery award and that he had already been nominated “many, many times”.
Simon Kennedy, the local federal MP for Sutherland where Ahmed’s shop is located, was among those calling for Ahmed to receive the Cross of Valour, the country’s highest bravery award.
The father of two young girls has run a tobacconist across the street from Sutherland train station since 2021. It has been covered in flowers and thank you messages since Sunday night.
“People have been coming by and dropping flowers all day,” a worker at the neighbouring chemist said on Tuesday.
“He is a very nice man. Whenever we need something he would offer to help.”
Born in Idlib in Syria, Ahmed moved to Australia in 2006, and in 2017 applied to become a citizen, only succeeding after years of court appeals.
His father and mother, Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed and Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed, were visiting from Syria and stayed with him in hospital all day on Tuesday, along with his cousins.
Anthony Albanese met Ahmed’s parents during his near-half hour visit to the hospital on Tuesday and said they were “very proud” of their son who the prime minister described as “the best of our country”.
Ahmed thanked Albanese as he lay in his hospital bed, a fluid drip and bouquets of flowers beside him, with his left arm heavily bandaged.
“Your heart is strong, your courage is inspiring,” Albanese said, shaking Ahmed’s right hand in a video posted to Instagram.
The prime minister told reporters the man was recovering before further surgery on Wednesday and explained his thought processes on Sunday evening during their conversation.
“He was trying to get a cup of coffee, simple as that, and found himself at a moment where people were being shot in front of him,” the prime minister said.
“He decided to take action and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians. He is a very humble man.”
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, visited Ahmed in hospital and spoke to him on Monday night.
Former prime minister John Howard also lauded Ahmed’s bravery, speaking to Sky News on Tuesday.
“The single act of greatest courage we’ve seen is that magnificent man who tackled the bloke with the gun, and I understand he’s a Muslim,” Howard said.
“There are good people of every persuasion in this wonderful country of ours and although it’s a terrible tragedy and a reminder that anything can happen here, we should not lose faith in the Australian achievement.”
A GoFundMe set up to support the man has attracted more than $2m in donations, including a $99,999 donation from William Ackman, the US billionaire and founder of hedge fund Pershing Square.
Additional reporting by Miles Herbert.
This story was updated on Tuesday 16 December to correct Ahmed al-Ahmed’s age.
