Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmed has released the first images showing the stitches from the wounds he suffered when he was shot during the mass shooting in Sydney.
The 44-year-old received international acclaim after wrestling a firearm away from a gunman at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025.
Speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Tuesday, Mr Al Ahmed said he was still struggling to regain full movement in his left arm after being shot five times. Doctors have advised him that leaving two of the bullets in place is the safest option.
‘I was shot five times, [I’ve had] three operations and three bullets removed. Two bullets are still in [my] shoulder, which is not easy,’ Mr Al Ahmed said.
‘It’s a long process to recover, it’s not easy.’
He told Fordham that one of the bullets remaining in his body is lodged about 5cm from his heart. He also shared the first photographs of the stitches across his arms and an image showing one of the bullet entry wounds.
Mr Al Ahmed, who lives in Sydney’s south, had been getting a coffee when screams from people fleeing the park alerted him to the unfolding attack.
He spent two weeks in hospital after the shooting, while footage of him disarming 50-year-old Sajid Akram spread around the world.
Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmed has shown his scars for the first time since he was shot in the December 14 attack
Mr Al Ahmed, pictured in a white shirt, wrestled a firearm away from gunman Sajid Akram
He has continued to struggle with movement in his left arm after being shot five times
Police allege that Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid, who was fatally shot by an officer, opened fire on a crowd from a footbridge at Bondi Beach.
Naveed remains before the courts and faces 59 charges, including terrorism offences and multiple counts of murder.
Police allege Sajid had moved towards the festival gathering in the park between Bondi Beach and Campbell Parade when Mr Al Ahmed leapt from behind a car and wrestled the firearm from him.
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During his interview with Fordham, Mr Al Ahmed spoke about recovering from injuries that are expected to affect him for the rest of his life.
‘I don’t care about fame or celebrity because I’m injured and in pain and was shocked, [with my] whole body aching, mentally thinking about what’s happened,’ he said.
‘I didn’t think to shoot anyone. My target was only to disarm him and take the gun from him and save people’s lives.’
Alongside the two bullets still lodged in his arm, he continues to experience pain and restricted movement.
Fifteen innocent people were killed in the shooting as they gathered to mark the first night of Hanukkah. The youngest victim was 10 years old.
Mr Al Ahmed has shared images showing the extensive stitches remaining on his arm
He said two bullets remain in his left shoulder, including one positioned just 5cm from his heart
Another survivor, great-grandmother Eva Geller, recently died from complications related to injuries she sustained in the attack.
More than $2.5million was raised for Mr Al Ahmed through crowdfunding while he was in hospital recovering from his injuries.
In an interview with A Current Affair on Monday, he said he was grateful for the community’s support and remained determined to stay humble.
‘I don’t look to put myself in front of anyone,’ he said.
‘I wish I saved the people who lost their lives.’
His comments came ahead of the release of his memoir, Light Will Win: The Bondi Hero’s Story of Humanity, Hope and Courage, which is due to launch one month before the first anniversary of the attack.