'Do I Deserve It?': Bondi Beach Hero Handed $2.5 Million Cheque For His Brave Act

Ahmed al-Ahmed, the tobacco shop owner who won global praise for his heroic efforts in disarming one of the two shooters at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, has been handed a cheque of $2.5 million from 43,000 donors.

Ahmed leapt into action and tackled a longarm rifle from Sajid Akram, 50, who was firing indiscriminately at Jewish families on Sunday. His actions were praised by locals, politicians and celebrities.

In a video showing him receiving the check, Ahmed is seen asking, “I deserve it?” Influencer Zachery Dereniowski tells him, “Every Penny.”

🚨🇦🇺 BONDI HERO AHMED AL AHMED HANDED $2.5 MILLION CHECK IN HOSPITAL: “GOD PROTECT AUSTRALIA”

The Syrian refugee who wrestled a rifle from one of the Bondi Beach terrorists has received a $2.5 million check

from 43,000 donors, including a $99,999 contribution from American… pic.twitter.com/jLGwZpK43J

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 18, 2025

When asked if he could say one thing to all those who donated, Ahmed replied, “To stand with each other, all human beings. And forget everything bad, behind the back [in the past] and keep going to save lives.”

“When I do save the people, I do it from the heart. Because it was a nice day everyone enjoying, celebrating with their kid, woman, man, teenager, everyone was happy and they deserve to enjoy and it’s their right,” he was quoted as saying by news.com.au.

Ahmed sustained about five bullet wounds across his left arm, and one lodged in the back of his left shoulder blade while trying to save people. Sam Issa, Ahmed’s migration lawyer, said he did not regret his actions and would do it again.

A GoFundMe page set up for him by CarHub Australia has raised over $1.7 million from more than 29,000 donors, including US billionaire Bill Ackman ($99,999), Hollywood comedian Amy Schumer ($2,257), and Australian musician Kid Laroi ($5,000). Schumer shared a photo of NSW Premier Chris Minns visiting Ahmed in hospital on Instagram.

Originally from war-torn Syria, he first arrived in Australia in 2006 and is the owner of Cigara, a tobacco shop in the Sydney suburb of Sutherland. Initial reports mistakenly identified Ahmed as a fruit shop owner.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also visited Ahmed at the hospital. Albanese described Ahmed as a “true Australian hero” and said meeting him was a “great honour”.