Bondi hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed said he "didn't worry about anything" when he disarmed one of the alleged gunmen during the Bondi terror attack, when another shooter was just not far away from him.
"My target was just to take the gun from him and stop him from killing a human being's life, and [from] killing innocent people," Al-Ahmed said, recounting the horrific moment for the first time in an interview with United States outlet CBS News.
Footage that circulated online after the attack — which targeted a Jewish Hanukkah event on 14 December — showed the 43-year-old tobacco shop owner ripping a gun out of the hands of alleged gunman Sajid Akram.
Praising his "incredible bravery", NSW Premier Chris Minns, who visited Al-Ahmed at St George Hospital in Sydney a day after the attack, said his actions "saved countless lives".
"I jumped [on] his back, hit him and [held] him with my right hand, and [started] saying … to warn him, 'Drop your gun, stop doing what you're doing'," Al-Ahmed said as he recalled the ordeal.
During the interview, he was wearing a sling on his left arm, having been shot in the shoulder and hand and undergoing several surgeries.
He said he didn't have time to think before he moved to wrestle a long-barrelled gun away from the alleged gunman.
"I don't want to see people killed in front of me. I don't want to see blood. I don't want to hear his gun. I don't want to see people screaming and begging, asking [for] help," he said.
"And that's my soul asked me to do that."
The father of two said he feels sorry for those whose lives were lost.
"I know I saved lots of [people's lives], innocent kids and women and men," Al-Ahmed said. "But I still feel sorry for the loss."
Sixteen people, including one of the alleged shooters, Sajid Akram, died in the attack.
The second alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, faces 59 charges, including one count of committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder and 40 of attempted murder.
More than 44,000 people around the world have donated more than $2.6 million to Al-Ahmed in recognition of his courage and heroism.
"He's very humble," Albanese said after he visited him in hospital after the attack.
"At a moment where we have seen evil perpetrated, he shines out as an example of the strength of humanity. We are a brave country."
The prime minister announced last week that Bondi heroes, including Al-Ahmed, first responders and medical staff, who stepped up to help amid the attack, will be recognised in a special honours list next year.
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