<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An online fundraiser for Bondi hero Ahmed el Ahmed been inundated with over $2.5 million in donations after the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-heroic-man-disarms-gunman-turns-weapon-on-him/4d5e1253-c12c-4a84-9d42-b92fa175744b" rel="" target="_blank" title="tobacco shop owner was filmed wrestling a rifle out of the gunman's hands."><span>tobacco shop owner was filmed wrestling a rifle out of the gunman's hands.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Father-of-two Ahmed, 44, was at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening when he braved the gunfire and confronted one of the shooters, before eventually wrangling the gun from his hands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has undergone multiple emergency surgeries after being "riddled with bullets" and was quickly identified as the courageous bystander as footage flooded social media.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-hero-police-officer-id-cesar-barraza/c28f6822-ba17-42a1-9ed6-77e10d3c8b19" target="_blank"><strong><span>Hero cop who took down Bondi shooter identified</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A GoFundMe was set up shortly after the terrorist attack, asking for donations to thank Ahmed for "[preventing] the loss of countless more lives".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In a moment of chaos and danger, Ahmed el Ahmed stepped forward without hesitation," the fundraiser reads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"His actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without regard for his own safety."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-shooting-update-online-fundraiser-for-ahmed-al-ahmed-hits-over-two-million/00141be7-153b-4dce-9781-0d20e996c22d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US billionaire hedge fund owner Bill Ackman was among the early donors, offering $99,999 to the fundraiser in the hours after it appeared online.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-how-to-help-donate-blood-vigils-police-contact/a79df956-55a1-4e25-8c80-dd498b8ed5a2" target="_blank"><strong><span>How everyday Aussies can help in the wake of the Bondi shooting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has now garnered $2,515,194 in donations at the time of reporting, after the goal was revised to $3.1 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ahmed was injured in subsequent gunfire after confronting one of the gunmen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He doesn't regret what he did. He said he'd do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him," Ahmed's immigration lawyer Sam Issa told the </span><em><span>Sydney Morning Herald</span></em><span> after visiting the hero on Monday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He's not well at all. He's riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-man-charged-over-alleged-antisemitic-threats-on-flight-from-bali-to-sydney/0fd4b905-76fa-4890-abfd-9158ef89480b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Man charged over alleged antisemitic threats on flight from Bali to Sydney</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-sydney-how-the-bondi-beach-terror-attack-unfolded/297ea10f-dd5e-4125-b991-83e346c2b766" target="_blank"><strong><span>How the Bondi Beach terror attack unfolded</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ahmed's family also spoke to media this week, describing him as a "hero".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Maybe he can lose his life to save the other people," his cousin said of Ahmed's courageous efforts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I hope everyone in Australia wish everything is good for Ahmed to go back to his family."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His cousin confirmed Ahmed has two daughters, aged five and six.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ahmed's actions have been praised in Australia and around the world, including by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns also lauded Ahmed as a hero after visiting him in hospital.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>