Men who confronted Bondi Junction knifeman armed with bollards revealed

Two brave members of the public who confronted the Bondi knifeman armed only with bollards have been identified.

Two men who confronted the Bondi Junction knifeman armed only with bollards have been identified as two migrants from France.

Damien Guerot and Silas Despreaux were at Bondi Westfield to attend a gym when 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, wielding a knife, embarked on his rampage.

Footage that emerged in the wake of the attack showed Mr Guerot facing off against Cauchi at the top of an escalator. The Daily Telegraph reports he was preventing the attacker from reaching an area where dozens of children had been playing.

Mr Despreaux also confronted Cauchi with a bollard during the attack, and the two Frenchman are believed to have helped lead police officer Amy Scott to his location, at which point she shot him, ending his spree of violence.

“He’s OK, just shaken,” a friend told the newspaper of Mr Despreaux.

“He says he is no hero, he is just an ordinary guy.

“He isn’t able to talk about it much.”

Damien Guerot.

Silas Despreaux. Picture: Instagram

Harrowing footage

In the footage that was widely shared after the attack, Mr Guerot could be seen fending off the kinfeman from the top of an escalator.

He was hailed as a hero on social media, where he was dubbed “Bollard Man”.

“Standing ovation for Bollard Man at the Bondi Westfield stabbing,” reporter Josh Butler wrote on X.

Six people were killed, as well as the attacker, with many more injured during a mass stabbing inside the packed shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

A man with a knife was seen inside Westfield Bondi Junction. Picture: Twitter

The man dubbed “Bollard Man” on social media tried to hold off the attacker. Picture: Twitter

Armed only with a bollard, he boldly stood his ground. Picture: Twitter

The attacker dressed in a Kangaroos jersey was seen with a large knife on the escalator. Picture: Twitter

People are seen fleeing the scene. Picture: Supplied

A shopper exits the scene during the chaos. Picture: Supplied

An alarm was heard blaring as the centre went into lockdown, with people seen fleeing.

In another horror incident, the suspect was seen walking towards a family.

Another man, believed to be a father, bravely confronted the suspect, who was armed with a large knife.

Instead of running away, the father protected his family by walking towards the attacker, who skipped off in a different direction.

The father protected his family as the suspect approached. Picture: 9News

The father bravely protected his family from the suspect, seen wearing a Kangaroos jersey and armed with a large knife. Picture: 9News

The attacker ran off in another direction after being confronted by the father. Picture: 9News

The horror unfolded at 4pm on Saturday afternoon when witnesses say a man began stabbing shoppers at random, including a woman and her nine-month-old baby, before being shot dead by police.

Panicked families have described running for their lives as tactical police stormed the shopping centre.

Police were seen battling to save victims’ lives across multiple stores, witnesses said, with blood splattered throughout the once bustling mall.

Footage and photos have been shared on social media showing bloodied people lying on the floor.

The rampage ended when the attacker was fatally shot three times by a female police officer.

Multiple people were stabbed during the attack.

A text between a young girl and her parent as she desperately tried to hide from the attacker.

Westfield salon owner Leanne Devine said her client’s husband George was on the way to pick her up and was trapped in the Myers changing room for two and a half hours with two of the stabbing victims.

The Vignesh family described how they hid in a desperate attempt to save their kids.

People react outside the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall after a stabbing incident. Picture: David GRAY / AFP

A family leaves the Westfield Bondi Junction. Picture: David GRAY / AFP

Heavily-armed police enter the Westfield Bondi Junction. Picture: David GRAY / AFP

Statement from police

Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cook said a man walked into the shopping centre about 3pm and attacked a number of people.

He said a female police officer was directed by witnesses and confronted the offender on level five.

“As she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him he turned and faced her and raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased,” he said.

“I’m advised that there are five victims who are now deceased as a result of the actions of this offender.

“There are more than several other people who have been conveyed to hospital.”

The female police officer reportedly told the suspect: “put it down” and shot him in the chest when he continued to advance.

She then gave him CPR.

Originally published as Men who confronted Bondi Junction knifeman armed with bollards revealed