3 hours ago
1
“There, he was shot, fell to the ground, and shot again.”
“Gefen’s put his own life at risk with his selfless actions,” the family’s statement read.
“Gefen – an unarmed Israeli civilian, living in peace in Australia – made a decision most of us couldn’t even think of. He ran into the face of danger like only a hero does, guided by the values on which he was educated and raised. A true hero that deserves recognition.”
Friend Cay Barr said a gofundme had been created for her “beautiful friend” Bitton.
“Not a mere bystander, but an absolute hero who deserves recognition,” Barr said. “He is currently in the ICU, after multiple surgeries and a long way to go. We are praying in the next days he will be stable enough to wake up.”
Lifesavers honour victims
On Saturday, on the sand of Bondi Beach, hundreds of surf lifesavers gathered for a moment of silence to honour the 15 innocent people killed in Sunday’s terrorist attack.
Many of the lifesavers had been among the first responders, ferrying wounded to the lawn outside their club, where paramedics and doctors who had been off-duty nearby treated the injured.
The honour guard of red and yellow uniforms stretched from one end of Bondi’s shoreline to the other as they stood in silence for three minutes. Nippers clung to their parents. A woman had a tear poised to drop on the baby in her arms.
Tamarama and Bondi surf lifesavers stood for a minute silence at Bondi Beach this morning. Credit: Oscar Colman
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce said other clubs around Australia were also standing this morning in solidarity.
“I’m so incredibly proud, we all stood shoulder to shoulder, we all cried,” Pearce said.
Chris Cooper, 27, was one of the first surf lifesavers on the scene last Sunday.
“I was just by the shower,” Cooper said, pointing to the Bondi surf club.
“When the gunfire started slowing down, I ran into the playground. I was probably one of the first people to actually see,” he said, referring to the location of the Hanukkah by the Sea event that was the target of the terrorist attack.
Loading
He then ran back to collect first aid equipment, he said.
Standing with his fellow lifesavers, Cooper said this special moment showed the community was here to help each other after Sunday’s horrific events.
“I’ve been in Surf Life Saving since I was like five years old, and I’ve never seen this kind of a community strength than here,” he said.
Dozens injured
Of the 42 wounded taken to Sydney hospitals on Sunday, 15 were still receiving care for their injuries on Saturday.
- One patient is in a stable condition at Prince of Wales Hospital
- One patient is in a critical but stable condition, and one patient is in a stable condition at St George Hospital
- Three patients are in a critical but stable condition, and one patient is stable, at St Vincent’s Hospital
- Five patients are stable at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
- Three patients are in a stable condition at Royal North Shore Hospital
Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
