Bondi Beach hero asks heartbreaking question while receiving $2.5 million donation cheque

The man who disarmed one of the Bondi Beach shooters was left in disbelief from receiving a AU$2.5 million cheque in hospital.

Ahmed al Ahmed has been hailed a 'real-life hero' after a video shared online showed him grappling the gun away from a suspected shooter who opened fire at a crowd of over a thousand people at Bondi Beach last Sunday (14 December).

Australian police said two gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, are alleged to have killed 15 people during the Jewish Hanukkah celebration.

Naveed has been charged with 59 offences, while his father was shot dead by police at the scene.

Al Ahmed, 43, has been recovering in hospital after being shot twice by the second assailant.

Post-surgery, the Sydney shop owner was stunned to receive a cheque of over AU$2.5 million (£1.2 million) on Friday, after more than 43,000 people contributed to a donation website.

In a video shared on social media, TikTokker Zachery Dereniowski is seen handing over the cheque when Al Ahmed asks: "I deserve it?"

To which the content creator replies 'every penny'.

Dereniowski then asks if he would like to say anything to the people who donated, and his response was: "To stand with each other, all human beings. And forget everything bad... and keep going to save lives.

"When I saved the people I [did it] from the heart because it was a nice day, everyone enjoying celebrating, with their kids, woman, man, teenager all, everyone was happy and they deserve, they deserve to enjoy."

The Syrian-born tobacco store owner, who left his hometown Idlib nearly 20 years ago to go to Australia, added: "This country [is the] best country in the world, best country in the world, but we’re not going to stand and keep watching – enough is enough.

"God protect Australia. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie."

Al Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed, told ABC Australia that his son was in the area to have a coffee with a friend.

“They got there and were shocked to see armed men firing weapons at terrorists,” he explained.

“Their lives were in danger. He noticed one of the armed men in a distance from him, hiding behind a tree.

“My son is a hero, he served with the police and in the central security forces, and he has the impulse to protect people.

“When he saw people laying on the ground, and the blood everywhere, immediately his conscience and his soul compelled him to pounce on one of the terrorists and to rid him of his weapon.

“I feel pride and honour, because my son is a hero of Australia.”