He’s been donated more than $1.7 million USD and traveled to the other side of the world following his heroic actions during the Bondi terror attack, but it appears Ahmed Al-Ahmed has not forgotten about his humble beginnings in Sydney’s south.
The father-of-two became one of the most talked about people in Australia, and around the world, after he bravely tackled one of two gunmen in December.
He suffered five gunshot wounds when he wrestled the firearm from a shooter, preventing other bystanders from being potentially injured or killed.
After being discharged from his weeks-long stay in hospital, Al-Ahmed was given a hero’s reception at multiple events including at the Ashes Test, a $1500-a-head charity gala dinner in New York and even received the keys to a Sydney council.
But despite months of praise from Aussies and well-known celebrities and his sudden newfound fame, it seems the Syrian immigrant is ready to return to normal life.
According to one local, the hero’s tobacco shop in Sutherland, which had been closed ever since the December terror attack, is set to reopen its doors.
“It will be great to have him back. He is a great guy and now a hero too and we have missed having him around,” one resident said, according to The Daily Mail.
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There were reports he had sold the Cigar store that he owned and operated since 2021.
Al-Ahmed had worked at the shop every day, other nearby shop owners said.
The Bondi hero was reportedly spotted outside his business last Friday.
Photos shared to Reddit showed the 43-year-old appearing to read letters left behind by well-wishers, while a camera crew filmed his reaction.
Locals were stunned by the pictures, claiming online that the tributes and flowers left out the front of the tobacconist had been removed weeks earlier.
It is not exactly clear what the footage was being used for.
However, Nine has reportedly secured an exclusive interview with Al-Ahmed.
Sources told Sky News he is being paid roughly $18,000 USD for his first sit-down chat with Australian media. Sky had been approached late last year by the hero’s lawyer asking if they wanted to speak with the man who had made worldwide headlines.
Despite agreeing to all his requests, including a luxury villa in the Crown casino overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Syrian refugee bizarrely pulled out of the interview.
In his only sit-down interview so far, Al-Ahmed told CBS during his trip to New York that he acted out of instinct as the shooters fired at Jewish families.
“My target was just to take the gun from him and to stop him from killing a human being, life, and not killing innocent people,” he told the US broadcaster.
It comes as Al-Ahmed on Tuesday night shared an update on his recovery.
A video shared to Instagram showed him undergoing a nerve test on his hand, saying “it confirmed what I feared”.
“Doctors sent electric shocks through it again and again. Even at 100 mA (milliamperes), I felt nothing,” he wrote.
“That moment was painful, but it did not break me. I remember the days when I saved lives and made a difference. If I had that strength once, I will find it again.
“This phase is hard, but it is temporary. Healing takes time, and I am ready to fight for it.
“I ask everyone reading this to keep me in your prayers. I believe I will heal. I believe I will rise again. I will not give up.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
