Fred Rogers often shared a poignant message for those grappling with the aftermath of a terrible tragedy: “Seek out the helpers.”
The beloved American television host, famously known as Mister Rogers, once recounted, “When I was a boy and frightening events unfolded in the news, my mother would advise me, ‘Look for the helpers.'”
“There will always be people who are helping,” he assured.
This week, the quintessential Australian spirit of solidarity and courage was vividly evident.
While the heartbroken families of the victims reflect on the final moments of their loved ones and an endless stream of news updates continues to pour in, there is a glimmer of hope amidst the sorrow.
An innumerable number of Australians rose to the occasion, offering assistance when it was most crucial.
When a mass casualty event takes place in Australia, it is not unusual to hear or see everyday heroes who risk their lives to help â often without a second thought.
The Sydney father-of-two, 44, crept up on one of the shooters, pounced on him and eventually wrangled the gun from his hands.
Ahmed then turned the weapon on the gunman but never fired, and shortly after he was injured in subsequent gunfire.
Ahmed has undergone surgery at St George Hospital as his bravery is lauded around the world.
“He doesn’t regret what he did. He said he’d do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him,” Ahmed’s immigration lawyer Sam Issa told the Sydney Morning Herald after visiting the hero yesterday.
“He’s not well at all. He’s riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment.”
More than $1.9 million had already been donated for Ahmed via a crowdfunding site set up for the hero.
“I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns.
The two people, who are yet to be named, were shot dead in the confrontation on Sunday evening as they grappled with one of the shooters, believed to be 50-year-old Sajid Akram.
In the footage, the man in the purple shirt can be seen wrestling the alleged shooter to the ground, disarming him in the process.
He then wields the man’s gun like a bat in an effort to stop the attack.
Later footage, which 9news.com.au has chosen not to publish, shows the man in the purple shirt fatally shot in the confrontation.
The 62-year-old father was shot and killed as he tried to stop one of the gunmen with a brick.
His daughter Sheina Gutnick said her father died a hero as he assisted Ahmed in confronting the shooter.
Witnesses who protected each other
Jessica Rozen had been attending the Chaunkah by the Sea event when the shots rang out.
She was looking for her own toddler son when she saw another little girl screaming in fear.
“We’re going to be nice and safe and nobody is going to hurt us, OK?” Rozen can be heard saying.
Rozen’s son was also protected by his grandmother during the shooting.
”She lay on top of him,” Rozen told the outlet.
“A group of men gathered all the kids and women from the playground and walked them up to the surf club.
“I don’t know who they are, but I am grateful beyond measure.”
Rozen also said on LinkedIn that she was OK.
“My brother-in-law was injured, I have some minor cuts and bruises but am otherwise unharmed,” she said.
“I have grown up here. I love this place. I wish only for peace and love. Thank you so much for everyone who came to help.”
Another woman, Julia, said her son was aided by a couple who drove him to safety after he was shot in the attack
“They saw he was bleeding so they put him in their car and drove him up the road, where they met my husband who was on his way down to Bondi to get my son and take him to hospital,” Julia said.
Julia is still trying to track down the strangers who helped.
Hero lifeguards who helped first responders
Bondi Beach’s famous lifeguards sprang into action the moment the shooting began.
Bondi local Alexandra Ching filmed Doolan as he ran, barefoot and carrying a medical bag, down Bondi Road from Tamarama.
Multiple members of the lifeguard team also stepped up to help the wounded.
One lifeguard even paddled into the water to help a struggling swimmer amid the chaos.
Surf Lifesaving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce earlier praised his team’s bravery and said he is incredibly proud of them.
“It was amazing, we got calls from the club as it was happening – lifesavers here in Bondi ran straight out to get children out of the playground, as they were under fire, other lifesavers ran out to perform CPR on people who had been shot,” he said.
Paramedics and police witnessing unspeakable horror
While most people at the beach were fleeing in the opposite direction, police officers, paramedics and first responders walked straight into the gunfire.
It is their job to risk their lives to help people in danger, but their bravery has been commended and praised widely in the aftermath.
Police officers from around Sydney responded “without hesitation” when the shooting began, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said.
“They just heard the event, put their uniform on, got in their car, and drove to Bondi police station because they knew they would be needed,” she said.
“We had them not just from locals, as far as Newcastle, Sutherland, western Sydney… You name it.”
Health Minister Ryan Park said frontline paramedics responded swiftly and professionally when they treated the dozens of wounded at Bondi Beach.
More than 100 paramedics responded to the shooting, ensuring no stone was left unturned and no injured person was left untreated.
“They went into an area that’s called a ‘hot zone’, meaning a live offender was possibly still in their midst, and they did remarkable work,” Park said.
Nurses, doctors and hospital staff treating the wounded
More than 40 people were injured in the shooting, some needing urgent surgery.
Hospitals around Sydney suddenly looked like war zones, with a triage centre needing to be set up outside one emergency room after it became too crowded.
Doctors, nurses, surgeons and frontline medical staff had a long night and long days ahead as the wounded came pouring in.
Some worked overnight and incredibly long hours to keep patients alive.
“Now our clinicians and our nurses are doing incredible work at our state’s hospitals, looking after those 38 people who are still in hospital and remain in various conditions,” Park added.
Australians who gave life-saving donations
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Lifeblood Australia issued an urgent call-out for donations.
Australians arrived at their local donor centres in the thousands, with lines snaking out the door and up the block.
For those who felt powerless and helpless and wanted to do something, this offered a crucial purpose.
As they say, many hands make light work.
And people were so eager and ready to donate that Lifeblood’s website temporarily crashed.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said blood donations are still needed.
“If you haven’t got an appointment, if you can’t get in immediately, we require your blood,” Minns said.
“To put this in perspective, for somebody in trauma, they may need 100 individual donations to save their life.”
The growing floral tributes
Bondi Beach has become a permanent vigil and growing floral tribute to the 15 innocent lives lost on Sunday, with countless bouquets laid at the Bondi Pavilion.
Sydneysiders from around the city, politicians and grieving loved ones have come to pay their respects and to mourn, cry, pray and sing with each other.
The Lemon Tree Grocer in Bondi offered free bunches of flowers to mourners and said in a sign that the owners “honour the good in our community and condemn all hatred”.
Notes of hope and support have also been left at the scene.
If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi there is support available.
To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.
For people under 25 years old, you can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.
Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.
