Bondi Beach hero faces new battle, lawyer confirms in emotional update

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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. Continue reading…

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