Hero in the Face of Terror: The Brave Aussie Who Ran TOWARDS the Bondi Gunman to Save Lives
- Israeli national Gefen Bitton, 30, shot while trying to disarm gunman Sajid Akram near Bondi Beach
- Despite being safe, Bitton ran back towards the bridge to help, putting his own life at risk
- He remains in intensive care after undergoing multiple surgeries, with his family by his side
- Bitton’s selfless act has been hailed as heroic, with friends and family describing him as a ‘super brave and super unique’ individual
In a shocking display of bravery, Gefen Bitton, a 30-year-old Israeli national, has been left fighting for his life after being shot while trying to disarm the Bondi gunman. The heroic act, which has been hailed as a testament to Bitton’s selfless nature, occurred on Sunday during the Chanukah by the Sea event near the footbridge.
As the sound of gunfire echoed through the air, Bitton’s friend Tom Cohen revealed that the 30-year-old had been looking forward to watching the ceremonial lighting of the menorah. Instead, he found himself in the midst of a terrifying ordeal. ‘He was safe, he had escaped, but when he saw the terrorist, he ran into the line of fire to help,’ said Cohen.
Bitton’s decision to run back towards the bridge has been described as something ‘most of us couldn’t even imagine’ by friend Cayli Barr. ‘Gefen had escaped, he was safe, but when he saw the terrorist, he ran in alongside to confront the terrorist,’ Barr wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to support Bitton. ‘He made the decision to put himself at risk to save the lives of others.’
The 30-year-old’s actions have left his friends and family in awe, with many describing him as a ‘super brave and super unique’ individual. ‘He’s like the most spiritual guy ever,’ said Cohen. ‘He loves people and always turns words into action. He’s such a good soul and he didn’t deserve it.’
Bitton’s father has flown from overseas to be by his son’s bedside, where he remains in intensive care, unresponsive, and has undergone five surgeries. The road to recovery is expected to be long, with doctors uncertain whether Bitton will regain full use of his leg.
Bitton’s story is just one of several heroic tales to emerge from the terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 15 people and injured dozens more. Others, including Boris and Sofia Gurman, and Reuven Morrison, also attempted to intervene, putting their own lives at risk to protect those around them.