Bondi’s very own hero, Ahmed al-Ahmed, has received a cheque for A$2.5 million while recovering in hospital, following a wave of global support for his bravery during the Bondi Beach massacre.
The 43-year-old fruit shop owner, originally from Syria, was hailed as a hero after video footage showed him tackling and disarming one of the alleged attackers during last Sunday’s shooting that left 15 people dead and more than 40 injured.
Earlier this week, TikTok creator Zachery Dereniowski — known for his global kindness campaigns — visited Ahmed in hospital to deliver the news in person. The emotional moment was captured on video and shared online, showing Ahmed lying in his hospital bed, arm in a sling, as Dereniowski held up a giant cheque.
“Good to see you, my friend,” Ahmed said as the two embraced.
“I came here with news of people around the world — 43,000 people, they raised you $2.5m,” Dereniowski told him.
“I deserve it?” Ahmed replied quietly, to which Dereniowski responded, “Every penny”.
In the video, Ahmed thanked supporters for their kindness, sharing a heartfelt message about unity and compassion.
“To stand with each other, all human beings. And forget everything bad … and keep going to save life,” he said. “When I did save the people, I did it from the heart because it was a nice day — everyone was enjoying, celebrating with their kids, women, men, teenagers — everyone was very happy. They deserve to enjoy, and it’s their right.”
He closed his message with, “God protect Australia, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier called Ahmed’s actions an example of “Australians coming together,” saying he “took the gun off that perpetrator at great risk to himself”.
Born in the Syrian village of al-Nayrab near Idlib, Ahmed migrated to Australia in 2006 and has built a life in Sydney’s community ever since. His brother, Huthaifa al-Ahmed, told ABC News he was proud of his sibling’s courage, saying, “I’m really proud about my brother.”
For now, as Ahmed recovers from multiple gunshot wounds, the millions raised in his name stand as a powerful testament to how countless strangers came together to support one man who risked everything to protect others.
Lead image: Zachery Dereniowski / Instagram
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