JAKARTA - Donors have raised more than $340,000 (around Rp5.6 billion) as a form of appreciation for the heroes who seized the weapons from the hands of one of the shooters in Bondi.
The viral video footage shows Ahmed el Ahmed, a father of two from Sydney, approaching one of the shooters discreetly.
The owner of the fruit shop, who is believed to be in his 40s, then grabbed the gun from the perpetrator's hand.
Among the donors was a prominent US billionaire, Bill Ackman.
The hedge fund manager asked someone to create a donation page for Ahmed.
"Can someone create a verified donation page so we can reward him and his family?" wrote Ackman as reported by 9news, Monday, December 15.
Ackman then donated $99,000 to the page.
Ahmed was reportedly wounded in the ensuing shootout and underwent surgery at a hospital.
His cousin, who spoke to the media this morning, described him as a "hero".
"Maybe he could sacrifice his life to save others," said his cousin about Ahmed's brave attempt.
"I hope everyone in Australia prays for the best for Ahmed so that he can return to his family," he said. Ahmed's actions have been praised in Australia and around the world, including by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ahmed hid behind a silver vehicle and approached the gunman before jumping on him and strangling him.
He wrestled with the gunman until the man dropped his weapon.
Ahmed then pointed the gun at the gunman.
The heroic man did not fire his weapon but gestured for help.
The man who recorded the video of Ahmed disarming the shooter revealed that he was initially on the beach when the shooting began.
Theodore Okur explained how he fled the scene and then recorded Ahmed's actions from his apartment.
"I was heading to the beach to buy barbecue. When the shooting started on the bridge, the man was 10 meters in front of me," he said.
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