Ahmed al Ahmed, the man who risked his life to disarm one of the gunmen during a deadly shooting rampage at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, has spoken out from his hospital bed.
“I appreciate the efforts of everyone,” he said, according to a translation of his remarks posted by Turkish news agency TRT World.
In the video, he also thanked his supporters and sent a message to his mother. It is not clear when the video was recorded.
“I ask my mother, the apple of my eye, to pray for me. Pray for me, my mother. May Allah grant you a long life. God willing, it will be a minor injury,” he said. “Pray for me that Allah eases our situation and delivers us from his hardship.”
Video shared on social media showed Al Ahmed, a father of two and fruit shop owner, crouching behind a parked car before sneaking up behind a gunman, grabbing him and wrestling away his firearm.
His actions during the terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration that killed at least 16 people have drawn international praise.
Al Ahmed was shot twice, with wounds to his arm and hand, and needed to undergo surgery, a cousin told 7NEWS Australia in the aftermath.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
