Bondi hero seen recovering in hospital as donors raise almost $1 million

The hero who tackled and wrestled a gun from the hands of the Bondi Beach shooters has been pictured recovering in hospital after sustaining a number of gunshot wounds during the terror attack.

Incredible footage that emerged on Sunday night showed Sydney father-of-two Ahmed el Ahmed creeping up on one of the shooters.

The fruit shop owner, believed to be in his 40s, then snatched the shotgun from his hands.

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Bondi Beach terror attack hero Ahmed el Ahmed in hospital, recovering from surgery.

Shortly after, he was injured in subsequent gunfire, and was taken to St George Hospital, where he underwent surgery for two gunshot wounds.

He is expected to make a full recovery.

Almost 24 hours after the footage emerged, donors have raised almost $1 million for Ahmed, with a crowdfunding site set up for the hero sitting at about $975,000 as of 7pm (AEDT).

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Prominent US billionaire Bill Ackman is believed to be among the donors.

The hedge fund manager had called for someone to set up a donations page for Ahmed.

"Can someone please set up a verified (donation page) so we can reward him and his family," Ackman wrote.

Ackman then donated $99,000 to the page.

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Ahmed's spoke to media this morning, describing him as a "hero".

"Maybe he can lose his life to save the other people," his cousin said of Ahmed's courageous efforts.

"I hope everyone in Australia wish everything is good for Ahmed to go back to his family."

Ahmed has two young daughters, according to his cousin.

The cousin confirmed Ahmed had two young daughters aged five and six, but said he had not had the chance to speak to him yet.

"To be honest, I don't speak to his family (yet), because I leave here very late last night," he said.

"Until now, I don't sleep yet."

Ahmed's actions have been praised in Australia and around the world, including by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ahmed hid behind a silver vehicle and crept towards the apparent gunman before leaping towards him and putting him in a headlock.

He wrestled with the gunman until he released the weapon.

Ahmed then turned the weapon on the gunman.

The heroic man did not fire the gun but signalled for assistance.

'Scariest thing': Man who filmed heroic act was at scene as shooting began

The man who recorded the footage of Ahmed disarming the gunman revealed he was initially on the beach when the shooting began

Theodore Okur described on Today how he fled the scene and subsequently caught Ahmed's actions from his apartment.

"I was going towards the beach to get some barbecue. When the shooting began on the bridge, the guy was 10 metres in front of me," he said.

Theodore Okur called Ahmed a "hero" for his actions, and said he felt "lucky to record such a moment.

He revealed he saw the gunmen target the Jewish ceremony and initially believed the shots were fireworks.

"It was the scariest thing that happened in my life," he said.

Okur said he couldn't believe the footage he was recording, but said Ahmed was a hero.

"I'm very lucky to witness this," he said.

"Being the only person who filmed this scene, which is extremely scary."

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