The mystery bystander who rushed to help confront the alleged Bondi Beach gunman has been revealed.
Israeli national Gefen Bitton, 30, was attending a Jewish Hanukkah celebration when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, allegedly opened fire.
As another hero bystander Ahmed Al-Ahmed bravely confronted and disarmed Sajid, footage showed Mr Bitton sprinting from the car park to help him end the attack.
He also confronted Sajid but was allegedly shot three times by Naveed moments later.
Despite his gunshot wounds, Mr Bitton managed to call his sister in Israel to say he had been shot before hanging up the phone.
She alerted his friends in Sydney, who launched a frantic search to track him down.
Mr Bitton was eventually found at St Vincent’s Hospital, where he was already undergoing surgery.
His father made a mercy dash to Australia and later recognised his son in social media footage as the man in a red shirt running from a car park to help Mr Al-Ahmed.
Israeli national Gefen Bitton (in red) is seen running to help bystander Ahmed Al-Ahmed after he disarmed one of the alleged gunmen
Gefen Bitton (pictured) remains in a critical condition
Mr Bitton remains in a critical condition in intensive care after undergoing four more operations.
He was shot in the lower abdomen, which shattered his pelvic bone and caused severe internal injuries and bleeding.
It remains unclear whether he’ll regain full use of one of his legs.
‘He knew exactly what he was doing, he was just set on a mission to help others,’ friend Matthew Volpatti told Nine News.
‘He’s a soft soul who would do anything for anyone.’
Mr Bitton has been living in Australia for three years working a garage door technician.
He was at Bondi that night to celebrate Hanukkah with friends after he spent the day in the Blue Mountains hiking – one of his favourite pastimes.
‘He’s got a long road to recovery,’ Mr Volpatti said.
‘He’s just a young man come from overseas to have a better life in Australia, and he’s going to need everyone’s support.’
Mr Bitton (left) was running towards one of the alleged gunmen to confront him when he was shot
The Israeli national had been living in Australia for three years
An online fundraiser to help with Mr Bitton’s mounting medical expenses has already raised almost $65,000.
‘Now in the ICU, Gefen’s put his own life at risk with his selfless actions,’ the page states.
‘Gefen – an unarmed Israeli civilian, living in peace in Australia – made a decision most of us couldn’t even think of.
‘He ran into the face of danger like only a hero does, guided by the values on which he was educated and raised.
‘A true hero that deserves recognition.’
Other friends described Mr Bitton as the ‘most spiritual guy ever’.
‘He loves people and always turns words into action,’ Tom Cohen told 7news.com.au.
‘He’s such a good soul and he didn’t deserve it. Nobody deserved it, but literally, he was such a good guy to everybody.’
