Newly released dashcam footage has provided a harrowing and heroic account of the final moments of a Jewish couple who were among the first victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack. Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia, 61, attempted to physically disarm one of the alleged gunmen, showing immense courage before being shot and killed.
A Confrontation on the Road to the Beach
The incident occurred on a road near Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday. According to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald and News.com.au, the Gurmans encountered a suspect who emerged from a car displaying an Islamic State flag on its windshield. The vehicle was parked near a footbridge leading to the popular beach, where a Hanukkah celebration was taking place.
Instead of fleeing, the couple, who were Bondi residents planning to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in January, chose to confront the armed individual. The dramatic video, provided to Reuters by an unidentified witness, shows Boris Gurman wrestling with the attacker and successfully seizing his firearm.
A Desperate Struggle for Survival
The footage, as reported by the BBC, details a fierce struggle where the two men fell onto the road. Boris Gurman, a retired mechanic, managed to get up and strike the attacker with the confiscated weapon. Tragically, it is believed the assailant then produced another gun and used it to kill both Boris and his wife, Sofia, who worked at Australia Post.
The witness who captured the footage told Reuters that Boris "did not run away. Instead, he charged straight toward the danger, using all his strength trying to wrestle away the gun and fighting to the death." The family of the couple confirmed in a statement that they courageously stepped in to try and protect others before being shot themselves.
Community Mourning and Support
The Gurmans were the first two fatalities in an attack that police have described as a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community. The shooting unfolded during 'Chanukah by the Sea,' an event marking the first day of Hanukkah, which had drawn many families and children.
The attack's toll rose to at least 15 confirmed dead, with victims ranging in age from 10 to 87. They included a 10-year-old girl, a British-born rabbi, a retired police officer, and a Holocaust survivor. A further 22 people were hospitalized, with nine in critical condition.
In a powerful show of support, a GoFundMe campaign established for the couple's son, Alex Gurman, had raised nearly $185,000 Australian dollars (approximately C$170,000) by midday Tuesday. The community has rallied around the family, remembering the couple as beloved local figures.
Another bystander, Syrian-born Australian shopkeeper Ahmed al Ahmed, was also hailed as a hero for disarming an attacker on Monday. He was shot multiple times in the arm and underwent surgery to remove the bullets.
The release of the dashcam footage has cemented the legacy of Boris and Sofia Gurman, portraying not just victims of a senseless act of violence, but as individuals who made the ultimate choice to intervene in the face of grave danger.
