The Syria-born man who tackled one of the shooters during Sunday’s Hanukkah massacre in Australia is recovering from surgery, his family and a local politician said. 

Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit vendor and father of two, was shot four or five times during the attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. He still has some bullets lodged inside his body, his parents, Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed and Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed, told the public broadcaster ABC on Monday. 

Footage of the ordeal showed Ahmed running up to one of the gunmen and wrestling his rifle away from him. He has been widely praised for his heroism, including by US President Donald Trump. Ahmed’s parents said he was in the area to have coffee with a friend when the attack occurred. 

Ahmed’s cousin, Hozay Alkanj, told ABC on Monday that Ahmed had undergone one surgery but may need more.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visited Ahmed in the hospital on Monday. 

Ahmed is a real-life hero. Last night, his........

© Al Monitor