Share this @internewscast.com


Floating on the sea, Chinese international student Levi Xu could see the smoke rising from the rifle held by one of the alleged gunmen on Bondi Beach on Sunday evening.
Desperate and scared, he thought it would be safer to wait in the water than on land.
But his energy was dropping dangerously.
He motioned his friend to swim back to the beach, only to find he was too exhausted to push through the water.
As gunshots continued to ring out, Xu felt he was about to drown.

A young man with flowing blond hair caught his eye, approaching from the shore with a soft rescue board in tow. He was swimming with determination toward him.

“As he reached me, he told me: ‘It’s safe now’,” Xu told SBS Chinese.

Thanks to the young man’s assistance, Xu, a 31-year-old recent graduate from Melbourne, and his friend managed to climb onto the rescue board, which swiftly carried them back to the beach.

However, as gunfire persisted, Xu realized the gravity of the situation—it was a mass shooting. “My muscles tensed up, and a wave of nervousness washed over me,” he recounted.

Xu, who has been in Australia for two years, chose to swim in a crowded area, where over a dozen people were also swimming.
When the first shots were fired by the alleged gunmen Naveed and Sajid Akram, Xu’s first instinct was that it was to stay in the water, thinking the sand was more unpredictable.

“Expressing my gratitude to him is crucial for me. It’s something I need to do to relieve my mental burden and move forward,” Xu explained.

“I kept hearing the gun firing sounds coming from one place, and the gunman was right in front of me.”
After being rescued, Xu and his friend were taken to a shelter nearby. But all he could think of was that he hadn’t asked for the name of the young lifeguard.
“He saved my life. I wanted to say thanks to him, even though I didn’t know his name,” Xu said.

“Despite being just 19 years old, [Davey] remained remarkably composed during the rescue,” Xu noted. “He didn’t show any signs of panic.”

The next day, Xu returned to the scene. Despite a strong police presence, Xu said he still felt scared and unsafe.
“When I was back to the beach, I instinctively wanted to hide. I had to walk alongside the walls. I felt unsafe walking in the middle of the path,” he said.
Through other lifeguards on Bondi Beach, Xu found the name of his rescuer: Rory Davey.
Xu sent a message to Davey, and they agreed to meet for dinner. Davey told Xu that he was “just doing [his] job” when he rushed to support Xu.
Xu said he was “deeply touched”.

“The decision to leave the safety of the buggy to rescue us was made without hesitation,” Xu added, expressing deep admiration for the young man’s bravery.

“His calmness and professionalism reassured me, so that I could climb on the rescue board myself.”
In a statement, Davey, who works as a lifeguard for Waverley Council, told SBS News that “any single one of our lifeguards would have done the exact same thing”.

“There wouldn’t even have been a second thought about whether they stay in the cover of the buggy or go out and rescue the two swimmers,” he said.

‘Many people are very warm-hearted’

Xu said Davey’s bravery had inspired him to stand up for others in the future. “I really like Australia, because I find people very brave and kind,” he said.
“Many people are very warm-hearted. Once you talk to them, you can feel their friendliness.

“During the attack, I saw many heroes. I don’t think this is a coincidence. There should be an unspoken understanding among people about bravery and justice, about being a good Samaritan.”

Xu said he’s still feeling the impacts of the tragedy. He experienced insomnia and had lost his appetite in the past five days.
“I feel that I haven’t left the beach since then,” he said.
“I don’t know how long this situation will last, but I hope it will be gone soon.”
This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Chinese.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

NSW Premier Seeks Royal Commission and Proposes Ban on Controversial Chant

NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced his government will introduce new laws…

Unraveling the Mysteries: What We Know and Don’t About the Alleged Bondi Gunmen’s Activities in the Philippines

Part of the investigation into Sunday’s Bondi Beach massacre involves the trip…
Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in Brown University shooting, at a rental car place in Boston, Massachusetts.

Reddit Sleuths Aid Police in Capturing Elusive Brown University Shooter: A Digital Manhunt

Police lights flashed for hours as law enforcement officers surrounded a storage…
The world's longest flight recently took its first journey, taking 29 hours and covering 12,400 miles. And while it may seem like a nightmare to some, it has been celebrated as a landmark success for long-haul travellers who no longer need to take a connecting flight. Launched on December 4, the China Eastern Airlines route sets off from Shanghai and lands in Buenos Aires. The flight from China to Argentina takes more than 25 hours, with the return journey taking four hours longer.

Record-Breaking 12,400-Mile Flight Sets New Benchmark for Longest Journey

The world’s longest commercial flight has officially taken off, marking a significant…

Why Swiss Commuters Are Taking the Plunge: A River Commute Revolution That Australia Might Need

Each summer in Switzerland, families, leisure-seekers and commuters pack their dry bags…
Patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer could soon save thousands of dollars every month as the government prepares to cover the cost of crucial medication.

Life-Saving Cancer Medication Soon Available Through Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Patients battling an aggressive type of breast cancer might soon see significant…

Epic Father-Son Journey: Inside the 14,000km England-to-Australia Bike Adventure

Growing up in Manchester, United Kingdom, Jamie Hargreaves and his brother were…

Donald Trump Confronts Internal Criticism Over Epstein Document Redactions

Extensive redactions and the partial release of documents related to convicted sex…

Bondi Lifesaver Ahmed Al-Ahmed Questions Merit of $2.5 Million Donation

Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the tobacco shop owner who was wounded after disarming one…
Prince Andrew seen in Epstein files

New Epstein Documents Reveal Andrew Pictured in Controversial Lap Scene

A photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying on a couch has been released,…
The final missing piece of the creature to be found was the beak and the three arms (pictured) which washed onto shore last Thursday

Unveiling Scotland’s Mystical Find: The Rare ‘7-Legged’ Octopus That Inspired Demogorgon Legends

Visitors to a Scottish beach were astounded by the discovery of a…
Albanese booed, Minns praised at Bondi Beach vigil

Albanese Faces Backlash, Minns Applauded: Bondi Beach Vigil Sparks Mixed Reactions

At Bondi Beach this evening, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced a mixed…