In a heart-warming gesture, Ahmed al-Ahmed, the man who tackled one of the shooters in the recent deadly Bondi Beach shooting in Australia’s Sydney and sustained grave injuries, was presented with a cheque of AU$ 2.5 million.

Fifteen people were killed in the attack, which took place on the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. One of the two shooters was shot dead while the other was critically wounded and being treated in hospital.

In a video that has gone viral online, Ahmed could be seen visibly overwhelmed when Canadian social media influencer Zachery Dereniowski presented him with the cheque, who told him that as many as 43,000 people had donated towards his recovery.

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Recuperating from his wounds from the shooting at a medical facility, Ahmed asked Dereniowski, “[Do] I deserve it?”, to which Dereniowski replied, “every penny [of it]”.

“You are an absolute hero,” Dereniowski also told Ahmed.

Who is Ahmed al-Ahmed?

Born in Syria, Ahmed-al Ahmed is a 43-year-old fruit shop owner. He moved to Australia in 2006 and is a father of two daughters, according to several reports. He had reportedly grabbed the gun from one of the terrorists and was later shot in the leg and shoulder by another attacker. He has since undergone surgery.

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‘Save lives’: Ahmed’s message to the world

Ahmed, whose actions made global headlines, soon received the title of being ‘Bondi shooting hero’ and also drew praise from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who called him “the best of our country.”

When asked if he would like to send a message to people across the world, Ahmed said, “Keep going to save lives…When I…save(d) the people, I…(did) it from the heart,” 43-year-old Ahmed said.

“Everyone was happy…They deserve to enjoy (things). And it’s their right…Australia is “best country in the world,” Ahmed further said.