Billionaire Donates $100,000 to Bondi Beach Hero: “If I die, tell my family I was saving lives”

The heroic act on Sydney’s Bondi Beach has sparked a massive wave of solidarity around the world. One of the wealthiest people on the planet, American investor Bill Ackman, has donated nearly $100,000 to the man who, during a terrorist attack, confronted an armed attacker with his bare hands and prevented an even greater massacre.

Ackman, whose net worth is estimated at over $9.5 billion, donated exactly $99,999 to a GoFundMe campaign launched for Ahmed al Ahmed (43), who physically disarmed one of the attackers during the deadly assault at Bondi Beach, according to Australian media reports.

The fundraising campaign surpassed $1 million in a very short time, far exceeding its original goal.

Ahmed al Ahmed, who arrived in Australia from Syria in 2006, is a small business owner and the father of two girls aged five and six. At the time of the attack, he was at the beach with his cousin when he realized that a shooting was taking place.

“He told me, ‘I’m going to die. Please tell my family that I went to save lives,’” his cousin Jozay Alkanj told Australian media, moments before Ahmed moved toward the armed attacker.

Footage that spread around the world shows Ahmed approaching the attacker from behind, grabbing him and, after a dramatic struggle, wrenching the gun from his hands. The attacker then fell to the ground and retreated. Shortly afterward, Ahmed was shot multiple times in the shoulder and arm and was rushed to hospital, where he underwent surgery. His condition is now stable.

Ahmed’s parents said in an emotional statement that they had been separated from their son for many years and had only arrived in Australia a few months ago.

“He saw people dying. When the attacker ran out of bullets, he took the weapon from him, but then he was shot,” his mother said. “We pray to God to protect him.”

His father added that Ahmed never thought about who he was saving: “It didn’t matter where people came from. Here, everyone is equal.”

Ahmed al Ahmed’s bravery has drawn reactions from around the world. Former U.S. President Donald Trump described him as “an incredibly brave man” and said he had great respect for him.

As a reminder, 15 people were killed in the terrorist attack carried out by a father and son. One attacker was killed at the scene, while the other was wounded and remains under police guard in hospital.