SYDNEY — Australian surf lifeguards lined the shoreline of Bondi Beach on Thursday and fell silent to honor the 15 people killed when gunmen opened fire at a seaside Hanukkah celebration last week, one of the deadliest mass shootings in Australia’s history.
Hundreds of rescuers in red-and-yellow uniforms formed a human ribbon along the surf, facing the Pacific as they observed three minutes of silence. Similar tributes were held by surf lifesaving clubs nationwide in solidarity before morning patrols began, turning beaches into places of commemoration as well as vigilance.
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Lifeguards at Bondi said the homage was intended to acknowledge the community shaken by the attack and those caught up in it. “We wanted to recognize the tragedy that has unfolded at Bondi while also reflecting on our respect and compassion for the Jewish community targeted by this attack,” the beach’s two lifesaving clubs said in a message. “We pay respects to those who lost their lives, those who risked their lives, those who worked so hard to save lives, and all of us who will never forget.”
Authorities said two alleged assailants carried out the Dec. 14 shooting. The elder gunman, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was killed in a shootout with police. His 24-year-old son, Naveed, survived and has been charged on multiple counts, including terrorism and 15 murders.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared Friday a national day of reflection and urged Australians to take part in a shared moment of remembrance. He asked the public to light candles at 6:47 p.m. local time on Dec. 21 — “exactly one week since the attack unfolded” — to mark the victims and the first responders who rushed toward danger.
Lifeguards at Bondi have been widely praised for their actions on the night of the attack, with accounts of them dragging people to safety, bandaging and resuscitating victims, and shepherding panicked swimmers from the surf as confusion spread along the promenade. A photo shared across social media showed lifeguard Jackson Doolan sprinting barefoot from neighboring Tamarama Beach toward Bondi, clutching a defibrillator to treat the wounded.
“There have been so many moving stories, but the viral image of Jackson Doolan, running from Tamarama to Bondi with a defibrillator so he could help save lives is remarkable,” Waverley Council Mayor Will Nemesh said. “Our lifeguards show selflessness every day in keeping our world-famous beaches safe for surfers and swimmers, but what we saw on Sunday night should be commended and celebrated.”
Australia’s volunteer surf lifesaving movement, which emerged on Sydney’s ocean beaches in the early 20th century, now counts more than 200,000 members nationwide. The organizations reported more than 8,000 rescues in the past year, reflecting a civic tradition that stretches from popular metropolitan beaches to remote coastal communities.
On Thursday, that tradition folded grief into duty. As Bondi’s surf settled and patrols resumed, the clubs’ message — echoed up and down the coast — framed the silence as a collective promise: to remember the victims, to honor the responders and to keep watch over beaches that belong to everyone.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
