Bondi hero Gefen Bitton returns to Israel for treatment

Gefen Bitton, an Israeli living in Australia who was critically wounded when he tried to confront one of the gunmen during the Bondi Beach Chanukah massacre last month, is being flown to Israel for further treatment.

Bitton — whose condition has improved but is still serious — is slated to travel to Israel today in a medical transfer.

He and another hero who risked their lives to protect others during the Bondi attack remain in hospital with a long recovery ahead.

Bitton, 30, had been living and working in Australia, and after hiking in the Blue Mountains on December 14, came to Bondi to celebrate Chanukah.  According to his friend Caylee Barr, when the shooting began Bitton managed to escape with friends but without telling them, returned to confront a shooter alongside Ahmed Al Ahmed who was able to disarm the gunman. Both Al Ahmed and Bitton were shot, Al Ahmed has since been released from hospital, while Barr stated Bitton has endured multiple surgeries and remains in intensive care.

Barr set up a GoFundMe page for Bitton’s recovery and wrote, “Our beautiful friend Gefen was shot three times with a shotgun and is now fighting in the ICU, after his act of heroism on Sunday night. On behalf of his dad and his family, we are raising money for his medical expenses and rehabilitation – a long road ahead.” Barr stated that Gefen’s father had travelled from Israel to be with his son.  Providing an update on his medical condition, Barr wrote on Monday that he had recently woken from a coma, “Gefen is still in ICU. We’re seeing small improvements daily, as he slowly wakes up.” According to Ynet, Bitton will travel to Israel for further treatment.

The AJN understands Minister Tony Burke visited Bitton and said he would be granted a special category visa enabling permanent residency in recognition of defending Australia.  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reportedly visited Bitton on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Leibel Lazaroff who ran to help police officer during the attack and was shot in the thigh and stomach, is now in a stable condition having been in a critical condition.  In recent videos to social media, Lazaroff is seen taking his first steps and playing piano in hospital.

Lazaroff, 20, arrived in Sydney from Texas two months ago to assist Rabbi Eli Shlanger was was killed during the attack along with 14 others.  His parents Rabbi Yossi and Manya Lazaroff travelled to Sydney to be with their son, and his father said Leibel remembered the ordeal, posting on December 20:

“Leibel was saving the life of a Police Officer who was shot, by removing his own shirt applied a tourniquet saving the officers life. Since the officer was incapacitated, as the terrorist was walking towards them, Leibel begged the officer to give him his gun, telling him, he’s from Texas, has a gun license and knows how to use it well, if not ‘we’re both going to die’.”

“Instead, Rabbi Eli was fatally shot and shortly after, Leibel was shot twice in the abdomen and leg, with a shotgun and rifle wound, and is now fighting for his life.”

He added, “Leibel, keeps on saying. ‘I wish I could have done more, I tried, but I got shot.’”

Leibel is now well enough to share his own story and in an interview with Chana Weisberg, said he begged the policeman for his weapon but he refused.

“I said,  listen, I’m from Texas. I’m licensed. I’m trained… maybe there’s a chance we can be saved please, please give me your gun. I begged him for it. I kind of reached for it to see what his reaction would be, and he kind of covered it. So, I was like…  leave the rest up to God… seconds later Eli Shlanger got shot… two seconds later I got shot in the stomach… apparently I also got shot in the leg, but I hadn’t noticed until later.”

Lazaroff was put in an induced coma and woke three days later, he has had multiple surgeries.

The Daily Telegraph identified the policeman who Leibel helped save as Constable Scott Dyson, and stated Dyson was able to fire at the gunmen before he was shot twice. Dyson, 25, is reported to have woken from an induced coma, has had multiple surgeries and remains in intensive care.

Leibel said it was a miracle that he was still alive as the shots just missed vital arteries, and he promised to return to Sydney for Chanukah.

“It’s a miracle. I will be back next year for Chanukah. I’m going to be running that event… It’s going to be huge. Absolutely, we’re going to do it for Eli [Shlanger] because that’s what he would want. And we’re going to do it for the community. I’m going to do it for myself, because that’s who we are as Jewish people. We always bounce back stronger.”

Support their GoFundMe pages:

Leibel Lazaroff – www.gofundme.com/f/lights-for-leibel-help-sydney-shooting-survivor

Gefen Bitton – www.gofundme.com/f/gefen-our-hero-of-bondi