TEARS OF JOY: Jewish Billionaire Overcome with Emotion as He Hails Bondi Beach Hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed a ‘True Champion of Humanity’
- Syrian refugee Ahmed Al-Ahmed flown to US for specialist treatment after being shot five times during terror attack
- Billionaire Bill Ackman praises Al-Ahmed’s ‘amazing act of heroism’ and presents him with encased gold menorah
- Al-Ahmed reveals he acted out of ‘duty as a human being’ and says he’s still suffering pain in his arm and fingers
A Jewish-American billionaire was overcome with emotion as he praised the heroism of Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the Syrian refugee who wrestled a gun from a terrorist during the Bondi Beach massacre. Bill Ackman, a hedge fund founder worth almost $US10 billion, was speaking at a lavish dinner in New York City where Al-Ahmed was a special guest.
Al-Ahmed, who was shot five times during the attack, touched down in the US earlier this week to seek a “second opinion” on his injuries. The father-of-two was greeted by FBI personnel and has since undergone treatment in Los Angeles.
At the Colel Chabad Gala, Ackman hailed Al-Ahmed as a “true champion of humanity” and praised his bravery in the face of danger. “When there are a lot of people around, the willingness to step forward and put yourself in danger, very few people are going to do so,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Ackman presented Al-Ahmed with an encased gold menorah, saying it represented “endurance, courage, persistence, and most of all, life and light in the darkness”. The billionaire philanthropist also donated $99,999 to a GoFundMe campaign for Al-Ahmed’s recovery.
In a heartfelt speech, Al-Ahmed described the moment he decided to tackle the terrorist as “hard to explain”. “I think it was a holy miracle from God,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “I’m helping and saving… it felt like my duty as a human being.”
Al-Ahmed also revealed he’s still suffering pain in his arm and fingers, but is determined to make a full recovery. “You know, my fingers stopped working, but it’ll be all right… I need time, one, two months, that’s what the doctor says,” he told The New York Post.
The 43-year-old has been documenting his journey on Instagram, where he’s gained over 5,000 followers. He’s also expressed his admiration for US President Donald Trump, calling him a “hero of the world” and saying he’d love to meet him.
Al-Ahmed’s bravery has been recognised around the world, and he was recently honoured during the Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He was presented with a cheque for $2.5 million raised through GoFundMe to help support his recovery.