Ahmed’s parents, who arrived in Sydney from Syria two months ago, told Australian Broadcaster ABC on Monday that their son was shot four to five times in his shoulder.

"I feel pride and honor because my son is a hero of Australia," his father, Mohamed Fateh Al Ahmed said, adding that his son "served with the police" and had an "impulse to protect people."

He later told BBC Arabic that Ahmed had been nearby “by coincidence,” having gone out with a friend for coffee.

“He saw the victims, the blood, women and children lying on the street, and then acted,” his father said.

His cousin, Hozay Alkanj, told reporters Monday that Ahmed successfully underwent his first surgery, according to ABC. "He’s done the first surgery, I think he’s got two or three [more], it depends,” said Alkanj.

Another cousin, Mustafa, told Australia's 7NEWS on Sunday: “One hundred percent he’s a hero.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also paid tribute to Ahmed: “We saw an action of a brave man — turns out a Muslim brave man, and I salute him — that stopped one of these terrorists from killing innocent Jews.”

A GoFundMe campaign set up for Ahmed has raised more than A$1.1 million ($744,000) within one day. Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was the largest donor as of Monday, contributing A$99,999 ($66,400) and sharing the fundraiser on his X account.

"Funds remain safely held by our payment processors during our verification process until we can ensure that funds can be transferred safely to him," GoFundMe told NBC News.

Outside the hospital in the Sydney suburb of Kogarah, where Ahmed is being treated, complete strangers came to show their support.

Misha and Veronica Pochuev came to the hospital with their seven-year-old daughter, Miroslava, to drop off flowers for Ahmed, according to the Reuters news agency.

“My husband is Russian, my father is Jewish, my grandpa is Muslim. This is not only about Bondi, this is about every person,” Veronica said.