Rhiannon Ingle
Bondi Beach shooting hero Ahmed al-Ahmed's lawyers have issued the public with a health update following his surgery.
The shooting took place on Sunday evening (14 December) as the Jewish community gathered for the beach festival Chanukah (Hanukkah) by the Sea.
It left 15 people dead and 40 injured, while 17 remain in hospital.
Naveed Akram, 24, has since been charged with 59 offences – including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist attack.
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Akram and his father, Sajid, 50, are suspected of opening fire on crowds of more than 1,000 people as they celebrated Hanukkah in the Archer Park area of Bondi Beach in Australia on Sunday evening.
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, and two officers were also non-fatally shot as gunfire was exchanged.
Naveed Akram remains under armed guard in hospital.
Along with the murders, he is accused of 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, discharging a firearm intending to cause grievous bodily harm, a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol and placing an explosive in/near a building with the intent to cause harm.
Father of two Ahmed, 43, from Sydney, tackled one of the gunmen by sneaking up on him and wrestling his weapon away.
Ahmed sustained bullet wounds to his hand and shoulder for his heroic act of bravery.
He later underwent 'a very complex operation,' which 'involves nerve damage,' his lawyer, Sam Issa, told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday (18 December).
"Ahmed's in a lot of discomfort today, naturally," Issa said, adding that he is preparing for another eight-hour surgery set to take place tomorrow (19 December).
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Ahmed in the hospital, and told him: "You’re very strong. Your heart is strong. Your courage is inspiring."
"It's the most unbelievable scene I've ever seen," New South Wales Premier Chris Minns added. "A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people.
"That man is a genuine hero. I've got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery."
Ahmed's parents have likewise celebrated his selfless courage.
"My son is a hero," his father, Mohammad Fatih Al-Ahmed, told CBS News on Monday (15 December. "When he saw those people on the ground covered in blood, his conscience and his morals compelled him to attack one of the terrorists and take away his weapon, and the terrorist ran away."
Ahmed's mother added that she learned her son 'was involved in an incident and that he was in hospital'.
"Then, when I learned the details, I was very proud that my son was helping people and saving lives," she said.
"I am so proud of my son because he is a hero all around Australia," his father praised. "There isn't a news agency that hasn't shown the heroic work he did."