Bondi Beach Attack: Accounts of Civilian and First Responder Actions

Incident Overview
On Sunday, an incident involving gunfire occurred at Sydney's Bondi Beach. Police declared it a terror attack, identifying it as the deadliest in Australian history. The event resulted in 15 fatalities, including a 10-year-old girl, and numerous injuries. Authorities indicated that two gunmen, whom police stated were inspired by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), were involved.

Acts of Civilian Intervention
During the attack, several individuals intervened to protect others or confront the assailants:

• Jessica: Shielded a three-year-old girl, Gigi, from gunfire. Gigi's father, Wayne, later located his daughter unharmed under Jessica's protection. Jessica's child was also found unharmed.
• Ahmed al Ahmed: A Syrian-Australian shop owner, confronted one of the attackers, disarming an individual and sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. Footage of this action circulated online. He may experience arm function loss due to injuries.
• Reuven Morrison: Was observed throwing objects at an attacker following Ahmed's intervention. He was subsequently shot and killed.
• Boris and Sofia Gurman: Attempted to disarm one of the attackers. After succeeding in taking a weapon, the attacker retrieved another firearm from a vehicle and fatally shot them.
• Chaya (14 years old): Sustained a leg injury while shielding two young children from gunfire.

First Responder and Healthcare Actions
First responders and healthcare professionals also took significant actions:

• Jack Hibbert: A police officer, sustained injuries to his head and shoulder but continued to assist attendees until unable to. The 22-year-old is expected to survive with life-altering injuries.
• Lifeguards (e.g., Jackson Doolan, Rory Davey): Responded to the incident by running towards the scene, providing medical supplies, using rescue boards as stretchers, and assisting swimmers in distress. Rory Davey assisted Levi Xu and a friend, then returned to the water to aid others.
• Off-duty personnel: Numerous off-duty first responders and healthcare workers traveled to Bondi and local hospitals, some from up to two hours away, to provide assistance. At St Vincent's Hospital, eight operating theatres were active concurrently, compared to the usual one on a Sunday night.

Community Response
The incident prompted a significant community response, including a record number of blood donations.

Official Statements
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and State Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the actions of individuals during and after the attack.