Ahmed Al-Ahmed became a symbol of courage at Bondi Beach. Now he faces a long, painful recovery.

Video from the attack showed the 43-year-old father of two using cover, moving in, and disarming one of the shooters. He did not fire. Instead, he put the weapon aside and helped stop more harm.

Afterward, doctors took him to St George Hospital. Reports first described gunshot injuries to his shoulder and arm. However, his former migration lawyer, Sam Issa, says the reality looks worse. Issa told local media that Al-Ahmed has undergone multiple surgeries and carries several gunshot wounds. He also said Al-Ahmed currently has little or no feeling in one arm, which raises concern about nerve damage.

Then Issa pointed to a troubling detail. He said doctors had not yet removed a bullet near the back of Al-Ahmed’s shoulder. That placement, he argued, seems difficult to explain given the direction of the confrontation. He also warned that Al-Ahmed could face lasting damage.

Even so, Al-Ahmed’s family says he acted on instinct and faith. He came to Australia from Syria, earned citizenship in 2022, and built a life running a local tobacconist. Now strangers repay his bravery with support, including major donations through a GoFundMe nearing $2 million.