Bondi hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed is greeted by a wellwisher as he recuperates in a New York hotel room. Photo / Instagram
Bondi shooting hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed has revealed his health has declined just hours after he met with former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in New York where he is awaiting further treatment.
The former tobacconist sustained five gunshot wounds after disarming one of two gunmen during the December terror attack and has already undergone three rounds of surgery.
In a video posted on his Instagram overnight, Al-Ahmed could be seen lying in a hotel bed surrounded by visitors.
“My health has declined again,” he wrote in the caption.
“When the pain returns after the medicine wears off, I feel discouraged.
“But when I remember that I did what I did to protect innocent people and that so many people love me and are wishing for my recovery, I feel hope, optimism and joy.”
He went on to thank the group of visitors who dropped by his hotel room after he was forced to cancel meetings with them.
“Despite that, they came with such kindness and respect to check on me in my modest hotel room, just to make sure I was okay,” he continued.
Al-Ahmed ended the post by thanking wellwishers.
“Thank you from all my heart. Please remember me in your prayers,” he wrote.
The development comes just hours after Al-Ahmed met with former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during his trip to New York, where he has been feted for his bravery.
In an earlier post, Al-Ahmed shared an injury update with Rudd, saying doctors believed he was still months away from a full recovery.
“I’m proud [of] what I did to save a human being,” he said.
“Australia is the best country in the world. And I’m an Aussie, I put my blood to my country.”
Rudd, Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, embraced the Sydney tobacconist, saying, “You did an extraordinary thing, my friend”.
“Your image went across the world. We love you for it,” the former PM said.
Al-Ahmed shared a clip of the meeting on Friday afternoon, saying it was “a great honour” to meet Rudd and US politicians on his journey.
The Syrian refugee flew from Sydney to the US this week to seek a “second opinion” on his injuries after being shot five times during the terror attack on December 14.
He touched down in New York this week and spoke to CNN on Wednesday (local time) where he was asked why he did not shoot the gunman he wrestled the firearm from.
“I get five shots, it’s fine to save life. My blood for my country, Australia and for human beings around the whole world, anywhere and any place,” Al-Ahmed said.
“I did it as a human being. I didn’t shoot him because I was doing it as humility, to stop him to kill more innocent human beings.”
Hours later, Al-Ahmed was a special guest at a lavish $1000 (A$1485) a seat dinner at the annual Colel Chabad Gala in the Big Apple.
The father-of-two was brought to the stage on Wednesday night (local time) where he reportedly received a three-minute standing ovation by the packed out room.
Bill Ackman, a hedge fund founder worth almost US$10 billion who donated $99,999 to a GoFundMe campaign for the Bondi hero, was also in attendance.
Taking to the podium, Ackman spoke about the bravery of the Syrian refugee and how there was a difference between helping your family and complete strangers.
“When there are a lot of people around. The willingness to step forward and put yourself in danger, very few people are going to do so,” he said.
The billionaire recalled first seeing the horror in videos online that “just seemed to go on and on and on” before a clip showed a bystander taking action.
“He could have minded his own business. No one would ever know that he chose not to intervene,” Ackman continued.
“So I think that in the hierarchy of heroes, a person that is willing to risk his own life for the benefit of people that he does not know, where he takes on someone who is armed with a weapon and he has none, is an amazing thing,” he added, before choking up.
“Seeing someone step forward on behalf of people he didn’t know, risk his own life, and take on a guy with a gun, was really one of the great acts of heroism.
“It was very reaffirming to the Jewish community to have someone stand up on behalf of our community in the most life-risking way. That’s why we’re here.”
Ackman presented the father-of-two with an encased gold menorah with a plaque on the award reading “light will win”.
“[Jews] are 0.2% of the world. So seeing someone step forward on behalf of people he didn’t know, to risk his own life, and the calculus of going after a guy with a gun,” the philanthropist said to the guests.
“It’s really one of the great acts of heroism, and I think it was very reaffirming to the Jewish community to have someone stand up on behalf of our community in the most profound, life-affirming way. That’s why we’re here.
“The menorah represents endurance, represents courage, represents persistence and, most of all, represents life and light in the darkness. And this man deserves this.”
Al-Ahmed, dressed in a suit with his injured arm in a sling, kept his remarks short, saying the moment he decided to tackle the terrorist was “hard to explain”.
“I think it was a holy, and the miracle that’s from the God,” he said.
Speaking to the New York Post at the dinner, the former tobacco shop owner described feeling like it was his “duty” to help save lives.
“I’m helping and saving … It felt like my duty as a human being. Helping, keeping people safe,” he said.
Al-Ahmed said he still suffers with pain in his arm and fingers.
“You know, my fingers stopped. They’re not working, but it’ll be all right … I need time, you know, one, two months, that’s what the doctor say,” he told the Post.
Al-Ahmed declared his love for US President Donald Trump as he arrived at the dinner hosted by Colel Chabad, the oldest operating charity in Israel.
The 43-year-old was accompanied by FBI personnel when he landed in Los Angeles for the first stage of his visit to the US earlier this week.
Al-Ahmed described the trip as a “long journey, but a necessary one” as he seeks specialist care for his injuries.
When asked about whether he’d like to meet Donald Trump, he replied: “I wish. He’s a hero of the world, of course. I love him. He’s a strong man.”
He has documented the journey through photos and videos shared on his newly created Instagram account, which has already attracted more than 5000 followers.
“On my way to start my treatment journey in the US. I kindly ask everyone to keep me in their prayers,” he wrote in one post.
“Thank you for your love and support.”
Al-Ahmed, with other victims and heroes, were also honoured during the Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground over the weekend.
The tobacco shop owner was recognised for his bravery alongside first responders, including intensive care paramedics, NSW police officers, hospital and SES staff, as well as lifeguards and lifesavers.
The father-of-two was among the first heroes identified after the massacre, which claimed the lives of 15 innocent people during a Chanukah by the Sea celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach.
During the attack, he courageously wrestled a gun from one of the shooters and was shot in the process.
“My target was just to take the gun from him and to stop him from killing a human being, life, and not killing innocent people,” he told CBS.
While recovering in hospital, he was presented with a cheque for A$2.5 million raised through GoFundMe to help support his recovery.
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