More than $2.5 million has been raised for the man now known worldwide as the Bondi Beach hero after he risked his life to disarm one of the gunmen during the deadly shooting in Sydney.

Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43 year old Syrian born father of two and local fruit shop owner, was filmed sneaking up behind one of the attackers during the chaos of the Bondi Beach incident. In the widely shared footage, Ahmed can be seen wrestling the gunman to the ground, taking control of the weapon and placing it on the floor before raising his hands to show he was not a threat.

In the aftermath of the attack, content creator MD Motivator launched a fundraiser to support Ahmed and his family, recognising his extraordinary courage in the face of extreme danger. The campaign quickly gained momentum, with donations flooding in from around the world, ultimately raising £2.5 million.

While stopping the attacker, Ahmed was shot twice by a second gunman, sustaining injuries to his shoulder and hand. He underwent emergency surgery on Sunday night and is currently in a stable condition, continuing his recovery in hospital.

The funds were presented to Ahmed while he remained in his hospital bed, a moment that has since gone viral and sparked an outpouring of emotional reactions online. Many supporters described the fundraiser as a collective thank you to a man who acted instinctively to save lives.

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