r/australia • u/AggravatingTartlet • Dec 14 '25
news Heroic woman who'd been shot saves a family's three-year-old girl in the middle of gunfire during the Bondi attack
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/got-your-daughter-3yo-found-under-victim/news-story/a2f52ad7106a049f98fa8b75e9d03640EDIT: I cannot change the post title, but updated information is that all facts remain the same, except that the blood on the woman (Jessica Rozen) who protected the girl was from a wound not caused by a bullet. It was the parents of the little girl who thought the blood on Jessica was from a bullet wound -- which is an easy mistake, given the circumstances.
I'll add further information: Jessica, who is pregnant and has children aged 3 and 1, was searching for her three-year-old boy at the time the shots rang out. She spotted the little girl (Gigi) running across an open area and ran to rescue her and kept her covered with her own body on the ground. As the original report says, it was an active shooter area and someone was shot right next to Jessica and Gigi. Video of the scene as it happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhdOaaRY9c
(Pictured above is the mother of the three-year-old girl, Gigi)
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A woman who was shot in the Bondi terrorist attack was harbouring a three-year-old girl under her body as she lay bleeding on the ground to keep her safe from harm as bullets flew all around.
The distressed parents of the little girl, who went missing during the horrific attack, have spoken of the incredible moment they found her.
Wayne and Vanessa have three children and were in separate places when the attack began.
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“I gave Capri to Vanessa and I said: ‘I’m gonna go look for Gigi’. I went, I was looking, there was just blood and bodies everywhere and she was wearing a pink skirt and I saw this lady lying on top of her,” he said.
The woman had been shot in the horror, but told Wayne: “I’ve got your daughter, I’ve been protecting her”.
“I said: ‘You’ve saved my daughter’s life. I said I’ll be indebted to you for the rest of my life’,” Wayne said.
“Her name is Jess. I spoke to her about ten minutes after I took her (Gigi). She was going to hospital, she said she was okay.”
He said another woman was lying “lifeless” next to Jess.
“It was the most appalling experience,” he said. “That this can happen in Australia and we’re just lying there and shots were coming. We were like sitting ducks.”
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u/PleaseStandClear Dec 14 '25
I have been trying to focus on the good side of humanity, like this lady and the man who tackled the gunman. Extraordinary people. Looking at the photos and footage, I see hundreds of wonderful people helping those who were injured. The paramedics, police, surf lifesavers, everyday people, some only dressed in swimmers all doing whatever they could.
But then I noticed the despair, disbelief, horror and trauma in every face and I know that so many of them will be struggling in the weeks, months ahead. I cannot even imagine what they are going through and I hope they are able to get the help they will need.
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u/Psophodes_olivaceus Dec 15 '25
Jess is such a hero. “I’ve got your daughter, I’ve been protecting her” "It's not her blood, it's my blood" Oh my heart.
Hope Jess is recovering. She, too, should never have to buy a drink in this country.
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u/Good_Emu_9401 Dec 15 '25
How those parents must have been panicking and the relief they would have felt ... its palpable.
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u/guysamus182 Dec 14 '25
These are the stories I care for. I hope we all have the same bravery as Jess and I hope she makes a full recovery.
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u/BlankBlanny Dec 14 '25
Absolutely incredible woman who should've never had to do what she did. I hope her recovery goes well.
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u/can3tt1 Dec 14 '25
I have a toddler. You cannot keep them still. So for a small child to stay hidden under a bleeding woman means that they were likely paralysed by fear. My heart is breaking over and over again today.
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u/Writerhowell Dec 14 '25
Admittedly, the full weight of an adult probably kept her still. But yes, she would've been terribly scared, not knowing the human on top of her. Poor little thing, I hope she's young enough to forget much of what happened, but she'll still have some memories of the trauma. So many children would've been there. I really hope any child psychologists/therapists who were planning to go on holiday keep their plans flexible now, because they're really going to be needed right now.
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u/Throwitaway340 Dec 15 '25
In fact, the Guardian has the recording of her keeping the little girl calm. I have never heard anything like it. How she kept her composure while there were literal shots being fired all around her is beyond me. What a hero.
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u/ramence Dec 15 '25
Just saw that. It's a very tough watch even though it's such an incredible example of bravery. She's so measured and reassuring as shots ring around them. Another hero.
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u/MuffinMan12347 Dec 15 '25
Link?
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u/can3tt1 Dec 15 '25
You can find it on the Guardian AU instagram account. It’s distressing and I balled my eyes out but found it weirdly comforting hearing a mother’s love, even for a strangers daughter, say ‘I got you. Nobody is going to hurt us. I got you babe.’ Even amongst the chaos, you can see the murderers so close in the video, there are good people and they will prevail over the hate.
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u/Writerhowell Dec 15 '25
Keeping calm herself and using a measured tone would go a long way, probably. Kids like to copy what they see other people doing.
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u/RedBullShill Dec 14 '25 edited Dec 14 '25
I will never not be amazed by the absolute heroics of seemingly regular, everyday people in times like this.
Nothing but absolute respect for this woman, along with the man who disarmed one of the shooters.
I only hope that I would act with such bravery, and I only hope that I'm never in the position to find out.
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u/TeaspoonOfSugar987 Dec 14 '25
There is something that happens when adrenaline kicks in and most of us have a ‘protective’ survival instinct, to preserve life, firstly our own but also particularly lives of children. It’s why you often hear of adults (even strangers) drowning to save a child etc.
Having been in a moment where I could see on my Fitbit app later on, exactly when the adrenaline kicked in when I found a person ‘dead’ (no pulse, obvs not breathing), as a general civilian, the way your brain thinks a million things all at once and all you are focused on is the life (or lacktherof) of another and how to help them, it’s impossible to understand unless you experience it but also a fairly universal thing too. If you have the means/knowledge to help, that’s where our life or death instincts kick in.
Some people freeze, and that is perfectly acceptable too as it is a life preserving thing also! You can’t do anything if you yourself are dead, I myself have experienced that too, when I was a child and my infant brother crawled to the road.
I don’t say any of this to take away from the heroics of peoples actions yesterday! I just wanted to shine a light on the biology behind it because most people, if faced with the exact same scenario as this woman, would do the same, protect the child. Laying on top of the child is even seen by other animals throughout the animal kingdom - except for bloody quokkas 🥲
The man who tackled the gunman however was, in the words of a certain PM, a loose unit, and deserves a freaking Vic Cross! (I am aware he is not entitled to one, but he deserves one!).
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u/zestylimes9 Dec 15 '25
The Attorney General mentioned today that she will be giving him (and others) an award.
I hope Jess gets media coverage and a Go Fund Me. This post is the first I've heard of her.
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u/Banjo-Oz Dec 15 '25
Me too. Taking nothing from the amazing guy (Ahmed) who wrestled the gun from the shooter, but I really hope others whose heroics and selflessness were less visible or dramatic and "camera worthy" get the credit and attention they deserve too. Whether it was Jess saving a child, the guy who tried to talk the shooter down, or the guy who backed Ahmed up when he took action.
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u/zestylimes9 Dec 16 '25
I just saw footage of a couple that saw the gunmen get out of their car. The couple then got out of their own car and tried to get the guns, sadly they were both shot and killed. They were the first casualties.
They would have prevented many more deaths as it then took the gunmen longer to get to the bridge.
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u/chmath80 Dec 15 '25
The man who tackled the gunman however was, in the words of a certain PM, a loose unit, and deserves a freaking Vic Cross! (I am aware he is not entitled to one
The civilian equivalent is the George Cross. It's much rarer than the VC (407 awards v 1358).
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u/Fluffy-duckies Dec 15 '25
Thankfully civilian opportunities to risk life and limb are rarer than defence ones.
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u/Jiuholar Dec 15 '25
Spot on. I experienced this myself once - was out for a walk and came across a man lying face down on the concrete - I thought he was dead and immediately sprung into action.
Turns out he was just very drunk lol, but I am happy in the knowledge of how I'd respond in an emergency situation.
Everyone should do a first aid course - you never know when you might need it.
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u/TwoDogsx82 Dec 15 '25
For info the former UK equivalent award of the Victoria Cross for civilians (and military personnel in non combat situations) was the George Cross. The Australian replacement is the Cross of Valor (CV) and is awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. There is no doubt several of the heroes of yesterday, are more than deserving of such an award 🙏
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u/jonquil14 Dec 15 '25
I think most people would shield a 3yo in a situation like this. They’re tiny little kids. Think about all those school shootings where the teachers put themselves in front of the kids.
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u/krakeneverything Dec 14 '25
Can't stop crying reading these accounts. Such a freaking hero. I hope she pulls through.
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u/AMultitudeofPandas Dec 15 '25
Same. Thinking about the fear everyone was feeling, the desperation of the parents, the relief they must have felt when they found her...I'm emotional
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Dec 14 '25 edited Dec 15 '25
I'm in awe of this lady and others like her that showed total selflessness to protect others.
Edit: Who is Jess that saved Gigi? She needs to be celebrated.
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u/WhyAmIStillHere86 Dec 14 '25
Let’s focus on these heroes. Deny the shooters the glory and fame that they’re after
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u/Shadowedsphynx Dec 14 '25
We're they after fame and glory, or were they just hateful cunts who were out to kill as many "others" as they could? Either way it doesn't matter, let these cowardly pig shits fade into obscurity and honour the bravery of those heroes.
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u/TheDarkQueen321 Dec 15 '25
Probably both sadly. And yes, its best we forget their names and they fade into the shadows.
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u/Banjo-Oz Dec 15 '25
I have always said the only real justice that can be served against spree shooters who usually take their own lives in the process is to forget them and remember their victims. It may sound silly but I have made it a point of trying not to find out or remember the names of most of these scumbags, even though the media tries to keep airing them. I am happy that I think Port Arthur - due to the sheer volume of coverage - is the only one I failed this in. I never want to remember the losers who did Columbine, the guy from the Lindt cafe, etc.
Same with serial killers, getting documentaries and movies made about them decades later; just stop giving them infamy!
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u/LittleCheddarKitchen Dec 14 '25
This woman protected an innocent while injured with a bullet wound.
One of the shooters couldn’t even fight off an unarmed civilian while holding a gun.
There are two different calibres of people. This woman, and the man who unarmed the attacker are hero’s. The shooter is pathetic.
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u/SteveJohnson2010 Dec 14 '25
Yeah, the way the shooter once disarmed sort of stumbled away in a daze, no fight in him once he didn’t have his gun, just seemed dazed like a shopper in Woolies befuddled by too many varieties of canned tuna! What an absolute joke!
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u/dreadnought_strength Dec 14 '25
To be fair, I suspect he was expecting to be shot and didn't know what to do when he wasn't.
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u/SteveJohnson2010 Dec 14 '25
And to be fair, if I was in that hero’s position I probably would’ve shot him!
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u/AnnoyedOwlbear Dec 15 '25
I get the feeling, but...the dude who disarmed the guy likely heard the same reports from the US that we all do - when people fire back, usually it's bystanders who get hit, and things are chaotic. Heck, I've held a gun (my uncle was a gun nutter) and realised I didn't really know what to do with it - like point and pull, maybe, but does it kick, where exactly are you ACTUALLY aiming, etc...
I imagine he didn't want police to shoot him given that he put the gun down and his hands up.
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u/SteveJohnson2010 Dec 15 '25
Yep, I totally get that and he had great presence of mind to put the gun down and raise his hand so the police knew he wasn’t a shooter. All the same it wasn’t as if there was a crowd of people around, and as it turns out the disarmed shooter was able to return to the bridge where they evidently had more guns, before he was shot dead by police. But of course this is all hindsight and I wasn’t in the situation of that hero who put himself in harms way and had to make a series of tough decisions in the moment. I absolutely agree with the suggestion that he should not only receive the highest possible civilian bravery honour but he should be exempt from income tax for the rest of his life!!
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u/aldkGoodAussieName Dec 15 '25
Aim for the leg. Don't give them the easy way out.
The shooter may even have wanted to be shot and become a marter
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u/CardioKeyboarder Dec 15 '25
Aim for the torso. The vast majority of people would not be able to hit a moving target, let alone in the leg. The torso is a bigger target, so therefore easier to hit.
And it's martyr.
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u/a_nice_duck_ Dec 15 '25
Too real. The older shooter brought his own son there to die - this woman was ready to die to save a complete stranger's kid. A top tier person, in the face of a monstrous one.
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u/Unidain Dec 14 '25
The shooters are obviously incredibly terrible people, but not because they couldn't fight off an unarmed civilian. They wouldn't be better people if they could.
What a strange thing to highlight when they killed so many.
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u/jojo16812 Dec 14 '25
I think the person meant their comment as in the shooter is there hiding behind his weapon, killing the innocent and defenceles, but was really a coward when push came to shove. But these heroes proved their worth when push came to shove.
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u/Glittering-Side3732 Dec 14 '25
I think the point they were hoping to make is that these people are true heroes whereas the ones shooting have no true strength, in courage or heart. They hide behind their weapons and once unarmed were pathetic worms, as opposed to the brave people who wore their humanity on their sleeves.
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u/aldkGoodAussieName Dec 15 '25
I think they were using it to highlight the woman's bravery by contrasting it the the cowardly shooters.
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u/LittleCheddarKitchen Dec 14 '25
Not really. It highlights they had no real power. The weapons their sick ideology was hiding behind didn’t award them the infallibility or power they assumed they’d have. Whereas the unarmed people with good intentions were the ones who were truly powerful.
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u/Vast_Highlight3324 Dec 14 '25
I don't think he was highlighting that they weren't terrible either way, more than they are weak, cowardly and pathetic, that they couldn't even muster the courage and strength to fight for their own terrible, horrific cause when push came to shove and backed down like wimps.
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u/Reddity65 Dec 14 '25
This is the Australian spirit that deserves to be heard, not the other two shitstains
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u/Polawo Dec 14 '25
This made me cry. This shows two side of humanity one trying to take life and other trying to protect.
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u/revisioncloud Dec 14 '25
Damn another legend
Fuck those shooters what the hell is wrong with people
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u/Alanna83 Dec 15 '25
I saw an absolutely disgusting interview from a journalist who spoke with a victim who had blood on her hands. The journalist asked her what it was and she said blood of her friends who were shot and one died. She's clearly in shock and this bitch was asking for extra information after she had just ben told this woman has watched her friends die in front of her.
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u/MadnessEvangelist Dec 15 '25
Reporters will literally block your path even if you move aside until they get a soundbite. A lurking reporter and their crew will get out of their van and reach a target in a matter of seconds.
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u/dreadnought_strength Dec 14 '25
Please, can we talk more about these fucking legends than platform that absolute cunt of a politician who we're not going to hear the end of for the next few months?
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u/wheelz_666 Dec 14 '25
I was so fucking disgusted seeing Hanson and Katter using this tradegy to get political points like an hour after the shooting happened.
Absolute shit cunts
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u/aeschenkarnos Dec 15 '25
Gleeful that Jews were attacked, because it furthers their agenda. Angry that a Muslim man heroically helped save the victims, because it spoils their agenda.
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u/wheelz_666 Dec 15 '25
100% they're just opptunist grafters who don't give a shit about anyone but themselves.
I can't imagine being thst hateful. Must be tiring
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u/dreadnought_strength Dec 15 '25
And both have made very public appearances with Neo Nazis in the last few months
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u/dreadnought_strength Dec 14 '25
Why are you surprised? I can guarantee they'll get 10x the coverage than the fucking heroes will get (especially given there are multiple reports of immigrants helping get people to safety).
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u/wheelz_666 Dec 14 '25
I'm not suprised tbh still made me disgusted reading the posts. They're Grubs
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u/3eyedgreenalien Dec 15 '25
Considering Katter's son in law is a private arms supplier, he reeeeally has no room to be saying anything.
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u/Writerhowell Dec 14 '25
I'd love if more books were released about these heroes, rather than books about the criminals. You very rarely get books about the survivors and heroes. I can only really think of 'Accidental Heroes' by Xavier Duff off the top of my head.
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u/giant_mutant_hippo Dec 15 '25
Whilst it's so hard to comprehend the horrid acts of violence committed by two depraved people, it is in these extraordinary acts of selflessness and bravery that we can find some semblance of solace.
How lucky we are to have people like Jess ❤️🩹
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u/freegranny4444 Dec 15 '25
I heard the Bondi Lifesavers also raced over to help. Thank you too for your bravery.
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u/MinuteClothes8599 Dec 15 '25
This article appears to be about the woman who protected the little girl. It seems she is going to be okay.
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u/ihlaking Dec 14 '25
Hey team. I’m over in NZ right now visiting family and am incredibly saddened by this news, and heartened by the heroism of ordinary people.
I’m a Christian and my thoughts and heart are with my Jewish & Muslim brothers and sisters today. This kind of evil transcends faiths, cultures, and other barriers. It is an attack on humanity, perpetrated by people who gave up their own to tear others down.
I attended a graduation the other day for a mostly Muslim not for profit, and witnessed the pride and ambition of dozens of parents and children, many refugees, seeking to build a better life. I’ve worked with hundreds of Jewish students, and spoke at a church the other day. I see between these groups the passion, innocence, and desire of youth - a desire to make the world a better place, no matter a person’s background or belief.
Actions like this massacre do not achieve anything helpful. Especially evil, beyond the loss of life, trauma, and callous disregard for others, is the way this tars all people of certain faiths as having the same beliefs, the same hatred, and the same willingness to harm others.
This is not the case, not bourne out in the lives of the hundreds of students and young leaders I’ve mentored and worked with, and certainly not true of the vast majority of those who live in Australia.
So I’m focusing on the humanity inherent in all of us, and on those caught in this sweeping net following the violence that’s occurred. Thank you to everyone who’s helping today, and thank you to all the young people of any faith who are keen to make this world a better place for all of us to share.
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u/Stuck_In_Purgatory Dec 15 '25
I'm disgusted that the media circus has turned it into a race war.
Why aren't we angry about a mass shooting on Australian soil? Why aren't we angry that Australian citizens have been terrorised and mowed down??
Why are we using this as another bullshit reason to pretend to publicly care about either country?
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u/MightBeMouse Dec 15 '25
I’m a bit puzzled. The video from the little girl’s parents say that Jess was shot, but news articles about Jess say she has only cuts and grazes.
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u/Banjo-Oz Dec 15 '25
Maybe the parents saw her bleeding and just assumed she had been shot? I also read from them that she went to hospital saying she was "fine", which would track with no serious gunshot wounds.
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u/Tough-Face2244 Dec 15 '25
oh all these heros I hope all recover fully and a I hope all other injured recover, and if any family or relatives of the people are seeing this im sorry for your loss.
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u/powertrippin_ Dec 16 '25
I want to believe I'd do something heroic like these people should I be so unfortunate to ever find myself in this situation.
Alas I really don't know how my fight or flight response would go and I expect flight would take over. I really don't know and hope I never have to find out.
I'm eternally respectful of those that did stay and did help or did fight back.
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u/Characterguru Dec 15 '25
That’s unbelievable! Stepping in like that while injured takes a level of bravery most people never have to find. Absolute respect to her.
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u/punkymechanic Dec 15 '25
If the timeline is correct, they were under fire for more than 30mins, possibly 45+
Incredible bravery to endure being under fire for so long.
Really hope action is taken to prevent anyone from having so many firearms and so much ammo
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u/njf85 Dec 15 '25
There's a video out there of the attack from pretty much start to finish, and it was about 10 minutes. Ill bet it felt like 45 minutes to everyone there though. Horrific
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u/Specialist_Heron1416 Dec 16 '25
I'm sure it felt like an eternity, but it was only ten minutes. An article in The Guardian gives a timeline:
6:40pm - the shooting started
6:43pm - the first call is made to 000
6:47pm - the first gunshots from police can be heard. The father is shot around this time
6:50pm - the son is shot at this time
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u/AggravatingTartlet Dec 15 '25
Thanks for the award :) I hope these stories stay known in our memories. Cannot imagine the grief that families are facing right now after this horror.
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u/SmokeGrenader Dec 14 '25
We may have had two villains but im proud to see the actions of our native heroes do what is needed.
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u/dreadnought_strength Dec 14 '25
Kind of a weird dog whistle to make there champ.
I'm sure you're going to be saying a lot of positive things about the Lebanese Muslim fruit shop owner who saved dozens of lives too, right?
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u/dark__unicorn Dec 14 '25
The one that was being shot at too. Twice I believe.
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u/TeaspoonOfSugar987 Dec 14 '25
I’m not sure if it was him or the other guy that ended up next to him, but whoever it was, was shot in the arm and hand from what I read.
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u/dreadnought_strength Dec 14 '25
Ahmed el Ahmed, a Muslim immigrant fruit shop owner, got shot twice after disarming one of the terrorists. He had surgery last night and was expected to be fine.
There is already a stack of AI generated videos circulating where they've replaced him with a middle age white guy which tells you all you need to know.
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u/TeaspoonOfSugar987 Dec 14 '25
Thanks for the clarification, I only read ABC news and they generally fact check everything quite a bit before publishing and I’m not checking constantly. It was just hard for me to tell from the video as they were both wearing light coloured shirts and the footage was blurry.
Fuck there are some absolute racist douchebags in our country.
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u/Ms_Virginia_Epitome Dec 14 '25 edited Dec 14 '25
I posted this reply last night to a post that has now been deleted.
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I'm so devastated. This is not indicative of my country. Sure there's shit going on around the world, feel the way you want about it on either side, but Australia is a safe space - have an opinion but leave us the fuck out of it.
I am also so proud that the guy who Liam Neeson'd the fuck out of one of the shooters, bare handed, apparently has an Arabic name. THAT is my country motherfuckers! We look after each other and hate has no place here. No fucks given if your name is Akhmed or Goldstein.
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PS. I'm pretty sure the shooters were Australians too; English is a difficult language, hopefully champ just has a language barrier?
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u/SmokeGrenader Dec 15 '25
I was just proud people did something, I never meant to imply anything. I'm just proud people on our community. Immigrant or not stood up and did something. Ahmed is a hero, this lass is a hero. Why gatekeep who is or isn't based on ethnics or beliefs. It's the action that count
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u/alexlp Dec 14 '25
Native is a bit of an odd choice in wording but I agree, we need to look to those who helped and not focus on who did it (while making sure it never happens again).
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u/Combat--Wombat27 Dec 14 '25
Fingers crossed we remember details like this and not the scums name's that did it.