Remember me
The hero bystander who risked his life to help confront one of the alleged Bondi Beach gunmen has been granted permanent residency in Australia.
Israeli national Gefen Bitton, 30, was attending a Jewish Hanukkah celebration when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, allegedly opened fire on the crowd on December 12, killing 15 people and wounding dozens more.
As another hero bystander, Ahmed Al-Ahmed, bravely confronted and disarmed Sajid, footage showed Mr Bitton sprinting from the car park to help end the attack.
He also confronted Sajid but was allegedly shot three times by Naveed moments later in the lower abdomen, shattering Mr Bitton's pelvic bone and causing severe internal injuries and bleeding.
He was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital in critical condition, where he spent more than a fortnight in a coma. He remains in intensive care.
The garage door technician had been living and working in Australia for three years on a temporary visa.
Sydney Jewish representatives confirmed to the Daily Mail on Wednesday that Mr Bitton has been granted permanent residency in Australia.
This means he now has access to Medicare and NDIS support as his extensive and ongoing medical treatment continues.
Bondi hero Gefen Bitton has been granted permanent residency in Australia.
Mr Bitton, a garage door technician seen in red, is shown in footage running to help bystander Ahmed Al-Ahmed after he disarmed one of the alleged gunmen
Almost a month on from his selfless bravery, Mr Bitton has woken from a coma but remains in intensive care.
He has undergone at least eight surgeries.
'We're seeing small improvements daily, as he is now more awake. Every step counts,' a fundraiser update stated on Monday.
The fundraiser has so far raised more than $721,000 towards Mr Bitton's recovery.
'Gefen, an unarmed Israeli civilian, living in peace in Australia — made a decision most of us couldn't even think of,' the page stated.
'He ran into the face of danger like only a hero does, guided by the values on which he was educated and raised.
'A true hero that deserves recognition.'
Mr Bitton was at Bondi that night to celebrate Hanukkah with friends after he spent the day in the Blue Mountains hiking - one of his favourite pastimes.
Mr Bitton has undergone at least eight surgeries and remains in intensive care
Despite his gunshot wounds, Mr Bitton managed to call his sister in Israel to say he had been shot before hanging up.
She alerted his friends in Sydney, who launched a frantic search to track him down.
Mr Bitton was eventually found at St Vincent's Hospital, where he was already undergoing surgery.
His father made a mercy dash to Australia and later recognised his son in social media footage as the man in a red shirt running from a car park to help Mr Al-Ahmed.
Friends have described Mr Bitton as the 'most spiritual guy ever'.
'He knew exactly what he was doing, he was just set on a mission to help others,' colleague Matthew Volpatti told Nine News.
'He's a soft soul who would do anything for anyone.
'He's just a young man come from overseas to have a better life in Australia, and he's going to need everyone's support.'
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