A married couple killed in the mass shooting at Bondi Beach have been remembered as heroes after dashcam footage emerged showing them confronting one of the attackers at the start of the assault.
The attack unfolded on Sunday evening during Hanukkah celebrations at the popular Sydney beach, when Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed, opened fire on crowds, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more.
Dashcam footage shows retired mechanic Boris Gurman, 69, rushing at Sajid Akram and knocking him to the ground as he attempted to wrest the long-barrelled firearm from the attacker. Gurman was later seen seizing the weapon and pointing it at Akram, while his wife, Sofia, 61, ran to his side to help.
According to reports, Akram managed to obtain another gun and opened fire again, killing both Boris and Sofia at the scene.
In a statement, the Gurman family said they were deeply moved by the footage, which captured the couple’s final moments.
“In recent days, we became aware of footage showing Boris, with Sofia by his side, courageously attempting to disarm an attacker in an effort to protect others,” the family said.
“While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, we feel immense pride in their bravery and selflessness. That moment reflects who they were — people who instinctively tried to help others.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the couple, describing them as “Australian heroes”.
“I pay tribute to Boris and Sofia Gurman. Boris attacked one of the terrorists as he got out of the car, and that courage ultimately cost them their lives,” he said.
Another victim, fruit seller Ahmed al Ahmed, has also been praised for his bravery during the chaos. Video footage showed Ahmed moving between parked cars before grappling with one of the attackers and attempting to seize a weapon.
Ahmed was shot several times in the shoulder during the struggle and was scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday.
