In the wake of a horrific terrorist attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach, stories of extraordinary civilian bravery are coming to light, offering a stark counterpoint to the tragedy. Fifteen people were killed and dozens wounded when two gunmen opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on the evening of December 14, 2025.
Couple's Final Act of Courage
Among the victims hailed as heroes are a couple in their 60s, identified by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as Boris and Sofia Gurman. Dashcam footage verified by Reuters shows the moment the couple physically confronted one of the attackers as he exited a vehicle.
The video captures Boris Gurman, wearing a lavender shirt and shorts, wrestling with a gunman for control of a long-barrelled weapon. The struggle sends both men to the ground behind a silver hatchback. As the footage moves, the man in lavender is seen getting up with the weapon, with his wife Sofia nearby. Separate drone video later shows the couple lying motionless next to the car, having been shot dead.
"An elderly man by the roadside did not run away — instead, he charged straight toward the danger," wrote Jenny, the dashcam owner, on social media. The couple, described as Russian-Jewish immigrants, were remembered by their family for their "bravery and selflessness." Boris was a retired mechanic and Sofia worked for Australia Post.
A Community's Defenders
The Gurmans were not alone in their defiance. Another man, 62-year-old Reuven Morrison, was also killed after trying to halt the attack. His daughter, Sheina Gutnick, told CBS News that her father jumped into action immediately.
"He managed to throw bricks. He was screaming at the terrorist and protecting his community," she said. "If there is one way for him to go on this earth it would be fighting a terrorist." Morrison, who originally came from the USSR, is visible in social media videos chasing an attacker and hurling objects after the initial confrontation.
Their actions followed the critical intervention of a shopowner, Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Muslim father-of-two. Ahmed charged one of the gunmen from behind and successfully disarmed him, an act that likely saved many lives. Ahmed was shot during the altercation and is recovering in hospital. A public donation drive to support him has surpassed A$2.4 million.
A Nation in Mourning
The attack, which authorities are investigating as a terrorist act targeting the Jewish community inspired by Islamic State, marks Australia's worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years. Australian police allege a father and son, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, were the gunmen. One suspected attacker was also killed.
On December 17, 2025, Australia began holding funerals for the victims, as large crowds gathered at Bondi Pavilion to lay floral tributes and mourn. The nation is now grappling with the shock of the violence while honouring the profound courage displayed by ordinary citizens in the face of terror.
