The hero shop owner who tackled one of the alleged gunmen behind the Bondi Beach attack has been handed a A$2.5million (£1.24million) cheque in his hospital bed.
Ahmed al Ahmed hid behind parked cars before charging at one of the suspected attackers who opened fire on crowds gathered for a Jewish event at the Australian beach on Sunday.
Footage circulating online captured the moment the 43-year-old, dressed in a white T-shirt, secured him in a headlock from behind before wrestling the rifle from his grasp.
According to his family, Mr al Ahmed has undergone surgery for bullet wounds sustained to his arm and hand during the confrontation.
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More than 43,000 people across the globe have since contributed to an online fundraiser set up for Mr al Ahmed, including billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman who gave A$99,999.
Australia's prime minister and the state premier have also visited the dad-of-two in hospital to praise his bravery.
Mr al Ahmed has now been presented with a multi-million dollar cheque at his hospital bed by Zachery Dereniowski, a social media influencer and co-organiser of the GoFundMe page.
When handed the cheque, the heroic man said, "I deserve it?" to which Mr Dereniowski replied "every penny".
Ahmed al Ahmed was handed the cheque in his hospital bed
|@mdmotivator via REUTERS
When asked what he would say to the people who donated, Mr al Ahmed, who lives in in Sydney's Sutherland area, said: "To stand with each other, all human beings. And forget everything bad ... and keep going to save life.
"When I saved the people I (did it) from the heart because it was a nice day, everyone enjoying celebrating, with their kids, woman, man, teenager all, everyone was happy and they deserve, they deserve to enjoy.
"This country (is the) best country in the world, best country in the world, but we’re not going to stand and keep watching – enough is enough. God protect Australia."
15 people were killed and dozens wounded on Sunday after two gunmen opened fire at people celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, at the famous beach.
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New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visited Ahmed al Ahmed in hospital | REUTERSAmong the victims was a 10-year-old girl and London-born Rabbi, Eli Schlanger.
Australian authorities confirmed this morning that 15 people were still receiving medical care in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Four people remain in a critical but stable condition.
One alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, has been charged with 59 offences, while his father, Sajid, was shot dead by police at the scene.
15 people were killed in last week's attack
|REUTERS
Along with murder and terrorism charges, Naveed Akram is accused of 40 counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, discharging a firearm intending to cause grievous bodily harm, a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol, and placing an explosive in or near a building with intent to cause harm.
New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns announced today that his government plans to introduce laws to “restrict the authorisation of public assemblies in designated areas following a terrorist incident”.
Under the proposed plan, a ban would initially last for 14 days and could be extended in two-week increments for up to three months.
NSW Police lifted the crime scene at Bondi Beach on Thursday and confirmed the force had upped patrols in Bondi and other key locations across Sydney.
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