A newly surfaced video is circulating online, revealing an extraordinary act of courage by everyday Australians during the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack.
Dashcam footage shows the heroic moment a married couple confronted one of the gunmen — attempting to stop the violence before being fatally shot.
Married couple fought back
At least 15 people were killed after two gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered to celebrate Hanukkah at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday, December 14.
Police identified the suspects as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who was killed at the scene, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, who has since awakened from a coma and remains in police custody. Australian police say they discovered makeshift Islamic State flags and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside a vehicle believed to have been used by the gunmen.
In the aftermath of the attack, several bystanders were captured on video bravely fighting back.
One man, later identified as 43-year-old fruit shop owner Ahmed al-Ahmed, was filmed disarming one of the shooters despite being shot twice in the arm.
Now, another powerful video has emerged, showing a couple attempting to wrestle a gun from one of the attackers. The footage, recorded on a dashcam and first shared on Chinese social media, has since been verified by ABC News Australia.
The video shows a man wearing a purple shirt running toward a gunman as he exits his vehicle. The man tackles the shooter, and moments later, a woman rushes in to help as the two fall to the ground. At one point, the footage appears to show the man briefly gaining control of the firearm.
The couple was later identified as Boris Gurman, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61. Their family confirmed to The Sydney Morning Herald that they were the first two victims killed in the attack.
”While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, we feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness,” the family said.
”This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were – people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others.”
Boris and Sofia had been married for 34 years, with their 35th wedding anniversary approaching in January. They were looking forward to celebrating Sofia’s 62nd birthday on Wednesday 17th of December.
The family described Boris, a retired mechanic, as being “known for his generosity, quiet strength and willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need.” Sofia, who worked at Australia Post, was remembered as being “deeply loved by her colleagues and community.”
Witness speaks out
Their deaths, the family said, have left an “immeasurable void.”
“We are deeply grateful for the love, compassion and support that has been shown to our family “during this unimaginable time. From here, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve,” the statement read.
According to The Guardian, separate drone footage appeared to show the couple lying together on the pavement, while The Sydney Morning Herald reported they died in each other’s arms. A witness told ABC News she saw Boris Gurman — still wearing the purple shirt — grapple with the gunman as shots rang out near the beach.
“I just want Australia to know that he was a hero, that’s all,” the witness said.
“He could’ve gone the opposite way like the rest of the people did. But he went to that man directly knowing that there were shots fired.”
The Gurmans were among four civilians who confronted the attackers that night. Alongside them was Reuven Morrison, 61, who was filmed throwing a brick at one of the gunmen, an act his daughter said allowed a woman and her baby to escape to safety.
