‘Not all men’: Incredible detail in Bondi shooting

news.com.au ^ | December 18th 2025 | Mary Madigan

[naturalman1975]

When tragedy strikes it is human to try to look for the good, and one thing that stood out among the horror with the Bondi massacre was the outstanding behaviour from the majority of men.

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If what happened over the weekend made you more scared of the senseless violence men can be capable of, I don’t blame you. But I do think we should take solace in the fact the vast majority of men caught up in the horrors behaved selflessly and heroically.

You don’t have to look far to see all the incredible acts from men during the massacre in Bondi on Sunday.

Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, who heroically tackled the gunman to the ground and disarmed him, is still in the hospital recovering after being shot in the scuffle.

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There were also the surf lifesavers who went above and beyond, risking their lives during the shooting by running towards the danger and remaining on the scene to assist paramedics and police.

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Another Bondi surf lifesaver, Jackson Doolan, went viral after being spotted running barefoot towards the scene to help deliver medical supplies.

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Footage also emerged from a backyard in Bondi, where men were telling all the women and children to get inside the house first, prioritising their safety.

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The way so many men behaved during the horrific event is a testament to the fact that there are always more good men then bad.

I usually think the phrase “not all men” is a bit redundant. It allows most men to assume they are good guys and stops them from examining their own behaviour.

But there’s something significant about seeing all the viral brave acts by Aussie blokes, and this is one occasion when we need to be reminded that it isn’t all men.

[naturalman1975]

The article is paywalled. I wish I could easily share it all. I've had to cut it down to the most essential 300 words.

I do want to specifically address one issue I've seen discussed here.

A lot of people seem to be - in my view - trying to diminish the heroism of Ahmed al Ahmed by asking why, once he had the shotgun in his possession, he didn't shoot the man he had disarmed, and suggesting this means he 'failed' and shouldn't be considered heroic.

These people seem to be just assuming that it was possible for Mr Ahmed to fire the shotgun. They don't seem to even consider the possibility the gun was empty, or that it had jammed. I've seen both things claimed in the media here - remember in Australia, this is an absolutely huge story and we're seeing a lot of stuff, you're not necessarily seeing in the US because of that - but so far, I haven't found anything definitive on that and at this point, it's possible information like that won't become available until there's been an inquest.

But I also think people lack context. At the time, Mr Ahmed disarmed the terrorist, that terrorist was reportedly advancing on a group of up to thirty people who had basically laid down to avoid the rifle fire coming from the other gunman.

In the approximately two minutes that the first gunman was disarmed before he returned to the bridge and took up another gun, and the second had turned more of his attention towards Mr Ahmed and Mr Reuven Morrison who also stepped up to attack the disarmed gunman (and was shot dead doing so), those people had the chance to escape.

Mr Ahmed was shot five times - not two as some initial reports have suggested - fortunately, he has survived.

[hanamizu]

Are Mr Ahmed and Mr Morrison being considered for the George Cross?

[Telepathic Intruder]

I tend to look for the evil, like the Australian government who jails anyone that dares to admit where the real danger is coming from.

[Organic Panic]

AND being a disarmed population, how many Australians even know how to operate a shotgun? Or any firearm for that matter.

“after being shot in the scuffle.”

Scuffle... Shaking my head.

[one guy in new jersey]

To even shake the hands of those men would be an honor for any of us.

Aces. Absolute heroes. What a great example to set

[absalom01]

It’s also possible that Mr. Ahmed simply didn’t know how to cycle the action. It’s Australia, and strange as it seems to us, the majority of adults there have never touched a gun, ever. Let alone fired one.

[montag813]

Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, who heroically tackled the gunman to the ground and disarmed him, is still in the hospital recovering after being shot in the scuffle.

Oh man I am so sick of the coverage of Ahmed...the "hero" who did nothing to stop the attack! He let the guy go. And it was AFTER he let him go that the scumbag re-armed and killed 5 more people, including 10-year old Matilda!

But everyone wants so much to believe in the "good Muslim" that they've raised $2.6 MILLION GoFundMe for a guy who didn't save a single person!

[naturalman1975]

Australia no longer awards the George Cross - we created our own Honours system some time ago, and while the Victoria Cross was retained because of its iconic and well understood history (technically, we now have the Victoria Cross for Australia, but it's identical in all respects to the original, even made by the same jewellers, and is treated as such throughout the Commonwealth), the George Cross was replaced by the Cross of Valour (CV). Like the George Cross, the Cross of Valour is ranked alongside the Victoria Cross in terms of prestige and precedent.

It's one of five Australian Bravery Awards for non-combat related bravery - in descending order, we have the Cross of Valour (CV), Star of Courage (SC), Bravery Medal (BM), Commendation for Brave Conduct, and Group Bravery Citation.

I would consider it highly likely Mr Ahmed and Mr Morrison will receive a decoration under this system, and I certainly would believe the CV to be appropriate in this case. Once everything is known, I would also expect there are other people who will receive various decorations under the Australian Honours system, both for their bravery, and for other actions undertaken on that day.

Honours can be awarded at any time, but the next general release date for an Honours list is 26th January 2026 (Australia Day). I'm not sure if that is enough time for the bureaucracy to get its act together, but I will expect to see something sooner or later.

[naturalman1975]

You will insist on this, won’t you. You won’t listen to actual facts and you won’t change your mind.

A man gets shot five time saving other people and you decide he isn’t a hero...

I’m done dealing with you.

[naturalman1975]

Can you name any of these people you believe have been jailed in Australia for this?

I bet you can’t.

[BenLurkin]

Were there no heroic women?

Wasn’t there a husband and wife who engaged the gunmen early on in the attack?

[naturalman1975]

Yes, there were. There’s been a number of reports of heroic actions by women, mostly of them shielding children with their own bodies. This includes a 14-year-old girl who was shot while covering two toddlers. She’s recovering in hospital.

This particular article had a particular focus.

I’d love to share more articles about these people, but we have idiots who seem to want to bitch and deny the heroism if it doesn’t match their worldview, or who complain bitterly if something is paywalled (and many of the best news sources are) and I’m honestly getting a bit tired of dealing with it all so I’m not spending as much time doing so as I could.

[naturalman1975]

Oh, and yes - Boris and Sofia Gurman were killed while Boris, at least, was fighting one of the terrorists. It’s less clear from what I’ve seen at this point, what Sofia did, except we know she had the chance to escape and did not leave her husbands side.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Usually they back down when the police show up at their door, and don’t post any more internet comments for fear of being jailed. If that’s OK to you then you should move there.

[Big Red Badger]

I Appreciate your work in covering this Horrific situation and please excuse the knuckle Heads here on FReeRepublic.
An outspoken few just love to
Watch the World Burn.

[naturalman1975]

I live in Australia (well, I now split my time between Australia and the UK, but more of my life has been in Australia than anywhere else).

And what you’re saying just doesn’t match the actual reality of living here.

Frankly, I think a lot of inaccurate propaganda is being spread in the US about Australia with the intention of trying to split an alliance. I regard China as the most likely culprit for this.

Unfortunately, it seems to be working too often.

[shaggy eel]

,,, I was in Sydney three days after the Lindt Cafe horror. The cafe had been boarded up with construction ply and I’d never seen so many floral tributes in one place as there were gathered there. I can only imagine what the city is going through and I know it will take a long time for the dust to settle, but the memories will always scar so many. Prayers and thoughts are with you.

[The Great RJ]

It begs the question where did the terrorists get their weapons in supposedly gun free Australia? The PM is calling for more gun control like some of the strictest gun laws in the world didn’t deter these terrorists from getting their guns.

[stoneyhll]

He was not a Muslim but rather Maronite Christian. Get your. Facts straight hater.

[montag813]

A man gets shot five time saving other people and you decide he isn’t a hero... I’m done dealing with you.

Even Al Jazeera confirms Ahmed was shot 2 times, not your absurd 5. And he did NOT save anyone, as the gunman he LET GO (have you not seen the damn video??) re-armed himself with another of his 6 total guns he had in his kit bag, and began shooting again, killing several more people, including a 10 year old girl.